Cleveland Police Firearms Licensing

[Len the dog]

Firstly, I do not wish readers to think that this post is in any way intended to rub other people's noses in it, because it isn't.

My 17 year old son sent in his online SGC renewal & coterminous FAC grant (RF & CF) on the 30th March of this year, and the certificates arrived in the post today, that's 9 1/2 weeks from application, the FEO's visit was less than a week ago.
I read countless comments on these pages regarding the woeful turnaround times of various forces and realise how lucky I am to have such an efficient and professionally run licensing unit where I live.

I have commended them on a previous occasion when my FAC grant was turned around in 19 days, with variations taking 3 days, all of course before the latest HO guidelines following the incident in Plymouth increased their workload, and for this I won a Musto jacket from Sporting Gun. I would like to take this opportunity however to not only thank Cleveland Police Firearms Licensing Unit on behalf of my son, but to raise the question, why such a disparity in service across the 43 force areas?

Cleveland Firearms should rightly be held up as an example of how well it can be done whilst other forces, especially those that have indefinitely suspended all further grants, should be taken to task over their dismal failure to provide a service, and one that doesn't even come close to fulfilling their statutory obligations.

Well done to all the team.

 

[kes]

I think its more about the variation in approaches which upsets shooters and the onus placed on them now medical records are a pre-requisite. My force were good in sending out the bumf early - told I could fill in online or hardcopy. They advised to contact doctor immediately as the form would not be accepted without that input. Easy to follow but the hang-up was police criminal records - 4 weeks for a copy doesn't help smooth running but most other things went according to plan.
But add to this the extra cost, the variable delays, potential Firearms Dealer costs if you miss out etc etc. The process used to be very smooth running but now we add - the police would like a higher fee and the universal response is - How can that be justified after 'absorbing' the doctors fee. Hence disquiet and irritation.
Still, no-one is registering this disquiet with the Police as it might require them to 'go to war' to bring about change in the worst performing forces.