Gloucestershire Police Freeze FAC/SGC applications

[Conor O'Gorman]

Article in Cotswold Journal:

Outrage as police stop accepting applications for gun licences

POLICE in Gloucestershire have been slammed after announcing it has stopped accepting applications for firearms licencing.

www.cotswoldjournal.co.uk

 

[fixedwheel]

Article in Cotswold Journal:

Outrage as police stop accepting applications for gun licences

POLICE in Gloucestershire have been slammed after announcing it has stopped accepting applications for firearms licencing.

www.cotswoldjournal.co.uk

From that article:-

A Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesperson said: "We have made the difficult decision to temporarily stop accepting new grant applications for firearm, shotgun, dealers or explosive certificates."

"We are aware of the suggestion that this step is unlawful, and we are taking appropriate legal advice on this."


Wow. Just WOW.

 

[Liveonce]

And we are writing letters, how nice of us.

JR anybody.

I know I should shut up

And

As Chairman of the APPG on Shooting and Conservation, I do fully understand the inconvenience that these delays cause, and it’s even worse because the costs of renewing these certificates are about to go up considerably.

 

[Elshad]

Isn’t it interesting how we keep hearing that Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is apparently a “friend of shooters” yet this is all happening in his back yard?

I have yet to see what this supposed “friend of shooters” has achieved for the shooting community, including over the last 14 years when his party was in charge…

 

[SunnyDays]

Politics is frequently about 'back room deals' so whilst GCB's efforts might not be publicised, he may have done more than is obvious.

 

[63]

…..

 

[sh1kar]

In my experience they do not employ people from the gun industry or firearms owners, they look to be ex police or ex military, ex civil servants, ex customs etc unless others know different.

Ex FEO for many many years I know a very keen stalker and shooter. Not a problem as far as i am aware

 

[sh1kar]

If I was feeling really mischievous I'd find someone in Deloitte Public Sector and get them to start trying to sell management consultancy to Gloucestershire Police.

That'll teach them

??

 

[finnbear270]

Ex FEO for many many years I know a very keen stalker and shooter. Not a problem as far as i am aware

 

[sh1kar]

View attachment 393726

?

 

[nf-fuse]

The wider problem with this, I feel, is that it sets a precedent for other forces to follow if they manage to get away with it.

I think the use of the word ' temporary' is what they are hanging their hat on.

 

[SunnyDays]

I doubt that other Forces will deliberately follow the Gloucestershire example. Were that to do that, the shooting rights organisations would start exerting serious pressure on Government to establish a national Firearms Licensing agency, akin to DVLA, which mean a massive loss of control for Chief Constables, not to mention an ever increasing source of funds.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Isn’t it interesting how we keep hearing that Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is apparently a “friend of shooters” yet this is all happening in his back yard?

I have yet to see what this supposed “friend of shooters” has achieved for the shooting community, including over the last 14 years when his party was in charge…

May I suggest you put “Geoffrey Clifton Brown shooting” into Google, and there will be plenty of examples for you to read on how this MP has supported shooting over many years.

Back on topic, the MP saw the Chief Constable the next day to raise the issue, with further meetings involving BASC put in motion.

Given your interest, would you email your MP asking them to raise the issue with the policing minister? That would be most helpful.

 

[Twodogs]

Is anyone privy to any action by the Gun Trade Association? Nothing on their website.

Their mission:

The GTA’s mission is to promote and protect the UK gun trade and it carries out this remit at all levels, from representation at Government to day-to-day queries with Firearms Licensing Officers and local authorities.​

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

And we are writing letters, how nice of us.

JR anybody.

I know I should shut up

And

As Chairman of the APPG on Shooting and Conservation, I do fully understand the inconvenience that these delays cause, and it’s even worse because the costs of renewing these certificates are about to go up considerably.

Have you written a letter to your MP asking for the issue to be raised with the policing minister - even if you feel its futile surely its better than continuing with your comments about judicial reviews?

 

[SunnyDays]

Has anyone ever heard of the GTA sitting on an AIR panel, taking a case to Appeal, or raising issues with Government?
If, like me, you have not, then you might understand why fewer and fewer RFD subscribe.

 

[Liveonce]

Have you written a letter to your MP asking for the issue to be raised with the policing minister - even if you feel its futile surely its better than continuing with your comments about judicial reviews?

No. Surly one letter from BASC representing 55,000? members will sort the problem.

but if not where do BASC, or other shooting organisation draw the line, how long has Gloucestershire got to stop issuing new certificates for, one month, two months, six months, one year before its decide that raising the issue with the policing minster is not having a result?

What if the legal advice the police receive concludes it’s not illegal to temporarily for two years to stop issuing new licences, what then?

 

[royalewithcheese]

The wider problem with this, I feel, is that it sets a precedent for other forces to follow if they manage to get away with it.

I think the use of the word ' temporary' is what they are hanging their hat on.

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire stopped accepting new applications last year for 3 months so it's not the first time it would have occurred.

Thread 'Bedfordshire Police have now suspended all grants indefinitely due to Plymouth.'

Apr 18, 2023

suspension of new grant applications | Bedfordshire Police (beds.police.uk)

Bedfordshire police have just suspended grants for an unspecified period following "changes to firearms licencing law" (Link above)

"The process of obtaining and retaining a licence are now more robust, with considerably greater checks. In certain cases, checks with external agencies, such as health professionals, social services, probation services, multi-agency groups.

Checks with other regulatory or enforcement bodies, conducting drugs or alcohol testing, credit or other financial checks...

• 12gsnapcaps
• Replies: 86
• Forum: Legal Issues

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[SunnyDays]

No. Surly one letter from BASC representing 55,000? members will sort the problem.

but if not where do BASC, or other shooting organisation draw the line, how long has Gloucestershire got to stop issuing new certificates for, one month, two months, six months, one year before its decide that raising the issue with the policing minster is not having a result?

What if the legal advice the police receive concludes it’s not illegal to temporarily for two years to stop issuing new licences, what then?

Really?
I know what would have more impact on me if I were the Chief Constable....
My PA walks in to the office, handing me ONE envelope from BASC.
OR
My PA walks in saying, "Sir, Royal Mail are outside with an article trailer containing 50,000 letters for you. I think our Firearms Certificate holders are upset!"

Sometimes, more is simply more!

 

[Liveonce]

Really?
I know what would have more impact on me if I were the Chief Constable....
My PA walks in to the office, handing me ONE envelope from BASC.
OR
My PA walks in saying, "Sir, Royal Mail are outside with an article trailer containing 50,000 letters for you. I think our Firearms Certificate holders are upset!"

Sometimes, more is simply more!

Have you ever met your MP face to face on firearms related matters? if not arrange a meeting it will be an experience.

Having done so several times on firearms related matters including Michael Howard the then Home Secretary who was banning Pistols at the time, lots of members at the Club did likewise.
We are insignificant to them. When did your MP last write in the local newspaper or social media one word on anything positive to do with firearms? I would bet never, but plenty of words and pictures on all sorts of other local matters.
They distance themselves from us as far and as quickly as they can.
The only satisfaction I ever got out of the meetings with Michael Howard was when at the next election he knocked on my door asking for my vote of support and I politely told him like the support you gave me when we discussed the pistol ban and shut the door on him.

Have you ever made a formal complaint against your Chief Constable via your PCC to do with firearms licensing and had an inspector handle the complaint? I have.

Only a few months a ago an FEO told me BASC like to think they are able to influence policy but they don’t.

Would Wild Justice be using the JR process if they thought getting all of the many that donate money to them writing to MPs would have the same result? I guess the difference is they don’t care if they upset the establishment.