FAC carrying criteria

[cjm1066]

In 1978 my target rifle was I thought hidden on the back seat of my VW bettle. The police spotted it, I went voluntary to the local Police station with them and they checked with my issuing authority I had a FAC, them kept the rifle until I could show them my FAC, it was in for variation at the time.

The law hasn't changes since then, they might have been over zealous or anti gun, they were very concerned about a small tube of BB in my shooting bag, a colleague had recently faced a Shawn off shotgun.

 

[Kevgun]

From the latest 2022 home office firearms guidance: in the previous version 2016 it said "certificate or evidence of"

Require production of Certificates 22.9 Section 48 of the 1968 Act provides that a constable may demand from any person believed to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition to which section 1 of the1968 Act applies, or of a shot gun the production of their firearm certificate, or, in the case of a shot gun, their shot gun certificate.22.10 Section 48(2) of the 1968 Act provides a constable the power to seize weapons and ammunition in cases of non-compliance, the constable may also require the person to immediately declare his full name and address.

 

[8x57]

Was it Rumpole who quipped that an important point in a case should be made three times: first so the opposing counsel gets it, the second so the jury gets it, and the third time so that the judge stands a chance too.
Anyhow, I am sure the court is deeply indebted to your Lordship for the concise and accurate summary above.

Warning diverging from the thread.

I love it Dalua, you're clearly another huge fan of John Mortimer's Rumpole of the Bailey.
As they've done with so other many classics I'm sure that the series will be remade some time in the future. The only problem is who will they cast to replace the late great Leo McKern?

P.S. I'm just so surprised that this subject has again raised it's head. The subject question seems to appear at regular intervals and the arguments expressed are always exactly the same.

 

[Kevgun]

Having said that, I have been pulled quite a few times, and normally politeness goes along way, I've never once been asked to produce my certificate or show them my firearms, they caught me in a gateway one night making a cup of tea, I was their best mate after I'd offered them one as well.

 

[Heym SR20]

I have a copy of certificates on my phone.

If going on a trip I tend to take my certificate with me.

 

[maxtich]

I was also stopped on a dark lane ..on my way to a night on the foxes..@ 1.30 a.m !
They asked what I was doing and pest control was accepted as a good reason to be in possession of c/f rifle and thermal scope.
They asked and I confirmed I had permission and license for my rifle..he asked me for proof..I had on my videos of my previous jaunts.
Asked for my cert and I informed them that due to fraud I don’t carry them but had a copy on my phone.
They checked them and went away to their patrol car and confirmed they had already checked it on the pnc so carry on..

 

[stubear]

The way this has actually gone, in my experience, is that at part 5. The officer decides to seize your guns and makes you wait on the roadside for ages whule they get an armed response car, because they are inadequately trained / incompetent. You have to abandon your shooting trip/weekend, spend an entire day driving back home to collect the certificate, take it to the distant provincial police station and reclaim your guns, which hopefully have not been damaged by the careless and negligent way in which the police generally treat them (see threads on damage to guns by the police).
6. Everyone goes home - the police happy at having screwed up your weekend, and you disgruntled. It's not a crime but it is a monumental pain in the arse.

And that is exactly why I take my ticket with me when I go out - if you can produce it then no issues, but if you think I’m taking the chance that a traffic or normal beat copper in the Scottish Borders is going to be ok with me saying “they really are mine mate, honest to god” and that he can get a confirmed and accurate answer out of the chappy at the control room to prove it then you have a lot more faith in the systems and processes than I do!

 

[hcm1]

Personally I don’t carry it as the consequences of losing it are significant. I know the number of my certs and when I was challenged I gave them the cert numbers and proof of ID and they checked via the database no issues. Even better, carry a copy and proof of ID. Though, I guess it very much depends on who you end up dealing with!

 

[purdeydog]

I’ve not read all of this but no you don’t. I do have it with me. People saying police can check computers. They still need to establish your face belongs to the license and without a photo from your DL or FAC it makes it hard at the road side. Your daft if you don’t have a copy at least with you or your DL and your just making life difficult for yourself if stopped.

Ultimately if you cant prove who you are they can seize them and more if justified. Just the same as driving with no DL with you, can arrest on suspicion of other offences if the cap fits.

Hundreds of guns get lost or stolen every year in uk. They would be a xxxx cop to take your word.