Devon & Cornwall / Dorset Renewals

[evetseel]

Hello Folks,

for information purposes, i thought id share the latest from D&C regards the duration you can expect grants and renewals to take:


This email is being as your application will take longer than anticipated. Our average processing times for renewals are currently between four and seven months, however we are committed to improving this area of our service delivery. For grants, we prioritise applications related to livelihood and usually process these within 9 to 12 months. However, we did suspend granting licences during Covid and we are going through a process of reviewing some dated livelihood applications which we know go well over 6 months.

We are currently working through grant applications received in 2020 that are not related to livelihood. The continuance of wider work and staffing enhancements will enable us to reduce that timeframe.

Please note: If you have submitted your application and have allowed the required 8 weeks before your certificate expiry, you will be afforded firstly an automatic 8-week extension to your certificate. If necessary, a Temporary Permit will also be issued to enable continued legal possession of your Firearms/shotguns, upon expiry of this extension – If you are not eligible for a Temporary Permit then contact will be made in the week leading up to the extended expiry date.

If you have not submitted your application at least 8 full weeks before expiry, you will need to lodge your shotguns/firearms prior to the expiry date of your current certificates with someone who is in a legal position to take possession of them.

Please accept our sincere apologies in advance if processing times exceed 56 days. This is of course regrettable, and we understand the frustration that such delays inevitably cause.

We wanted to provide you with an update on how the firearms licensing department intends to improve our customer service by managing the existing demand of applications that are outstanding.

Several factors have contributed to the current delays, including:

• The Covid pandemic which had an impact on staffing and the ability to visit certificate holders.
• The critical incident in Plymouth has had an impact on the firearms licensing department.
• Legislative changes, crucially, the revised firearms licensing statutory guidance which requires much more of both applicants and police services – such as provision of doctors` letters by the applicant, enhanced checks for the police and more robust guidance generally.

With this in mind the firearms licensing department has increased staffing levels to manage both the application processes and customer expectation and these staff are now starting to arrive after recruitment. It will still take some time to clear the outstanding applications, but we will provide regular updates on our website to inform everyone of current delays. This is our commitment to you in order to improve your customer experience and process your application:

• Firstly, the department is currently triaging all applications in date order taking into consideration certificate expiry dates and occupational requirements.
• The Firearm Enquiry Officers will be dedicated to processing renewal and grant applications within the above criteria and will be visible in your local area.
• We are also working with our colleagues within the force, and we have a dedicated team of Special Constables who will also be visiting our certificate holders as directed by the firearms licensing team.

As already mentioned, it will still take the department some time to successfully manage the outstanding workloads, but we are confident that you will see some significant changes during 2022, accelerating through 2023.

Please can we politely ask for your co-operation and flexibility regarding your availability when contacted by a member of our team as this will increase the opportunity to process your application without further delay.

Our telephone lines remain open Monday to Friday 9.30-3.30 on 01392 225650 however wherever possible please can we direct you to our website which is regularly updated with frequently asked questions, this will provide the most up to date information. This will allow the Department and the firearms licensing staff to remain focussed on processing applications. For any other queries that you may have in relation to general firearms licensing matters please visit our website at:

Devon and Cornwall Firearms Licensing

 

[Tallguy]

I wonder what the Special Constables will be doing visiting certificate holders? Will they be doing tole role of the FEO visit or something else? Have they been trained in what to look for if conducting an FEO role visit for cabinet inspection etc?

 

[devon deer stalker]

I wonder what the Special Constables will be doing visiting certificate holders? Will they be doing tole role of the FEO visit or something else? Have they been trained in what to look for if conducting an FEO role visit for cabinet inspection etc?

After what happened in Plymouth I'm sure they would have crossed the 't's' and dotted the 'i's'

I had very good Service last year, 6 day turn around for a variation

 

[Sandyb]

Special Constable house visits That’ll go one of two ways, but won’t be able to agree anything, only report back…