Gloucestershire Police Freeze FAC/SGC applications

[cjm1066]

Dear Chief Constable

I am behind submitting my FAC renewal application, like you I have suffered “staffing/time” issues, my granny was terminally ill and I have to care for her, my wife changed jobs and my son started at university. I am sure you can concur that we can only do what is possible and I have had to prioritise my time.

Now it’s time for the festivities and my time will be demanded on that, however I anticipate that by mid-January I will have time to request my GP records and on their receipt complete my renewal paper work.

I trust you will understand this and to save your resources, let’s agree that a section 7 permit is unnecessary in these circumstances. My FAC actually expired in September, but I didn’t notice that and it seems neither did you staff.

 

[Moose67]

and now, redundancies are likely in Glos Police

“We’ve a statutory obligation to ensure we deliver for the public in a cost effective way and without any other viable funding options, we’ve no choice but to now enter into a period of collective consultation with UNISION to formally discuss redundancy proposals for some police staff posts."

Press release

 

[s.stimson]

I put in for a variation for a couple of additional moderators with Gloucestershire, posted the request off on the 21st Jan, got a phone call this lunchtime to say it's all done and is on its way back to me. I am very pleased with the turnaround considering everything

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I put in for a variation for a couple of additional moderators with Gloucestershire, posted the request off on the 21st Jan, got a phone call this lunchtime to say it's all done and is on its way back to me. I am very pleased with the turnaround considering everything

That's good to hear. Hopefully, moderators will come off ticket, which will help reduce workloads for police forces - and is a proposal supported by the forces. BASC has pressed the Home Office to continue what the last government started and take sound moderators out of the licensing system and we have been told by civil servants that this is still on the agenda, and we will continue to lobby for this to happen.

 

[buckonabike]

Glos Police reversed their decision and are now processing FAC grant and renewal applications. They are very short staffed, however, and it can take around 18 months to process.

In my case this works well, as I need to gain live quarry experience in order to be granted my FAC.

 

[Pedro]

It would be extremely interesting to learn how many hours it takes to process an application/renewal. Obviously some will be more complicated than others and there'll be the odd enquiry to another force or other body that is out of the hands of the dealing force. But there'll be an average time. It's also a simple thing for any force to know how many certificate holders are in their area and potentially how many grant applications they might get, given previous years numbers.

It'll then be a pretty simple thing to work out how many staff are needed. You'd have thought.

Alright, a couple of unexpected losses of staff can throw things awry, but over recent years, that obviously hasn't happened to multiple force areas all at the same time. There will also be more factors such as an increase in various checks. But still, all predictable.

If this were a business and there was competition, it'd be failing big style. "I'm sorry, you can't have your new washing machine for another 18 months, perhaps longer."

 

[buckonabike]

It would be extremely interesting to learn how many hours it takes to process an application/renewal. Obviously some will be more complicated than others and there'll be the odd enquiry to another force or other body that is out of the hands of the dealing force. But there'll be an average time. It's also a simple thing for any force to know how many certificate holders are in their area and potentially how many grant applications they might get, given previous years numbers.

It'll then be a pretty simple thing to work out how many staff are needed. You'd have thought.

Alright, a couple of unexpected losses of staff can throw things awry, but over recent years, that obviously hasn't happened to multiple force areas all at the same time. There will also be more factors such as an increase in various checks. But still, all predictable.

If this were a business and there was competition, it'd be failing big style. "I'm sorry, you can't have your new washing machine for another 18 months, perhaps longer."

It's all about numbers and budget. The same dept deals with renewals as with grants and there are thousands in the county. And every grant requires a home visit

 

[Sonicdmb73]

It's all about numbers and budget. The same dept deals with renewals as with grants and there are thousands in the county. And every grant requires a home visit

You’re right, it’s also about how policing has changed. Some of it not for the better.
You would have had a local Bobby with knowledge of many applicants. Making home visits. Which meant more people covered an area than the current FEO system does.
But as previously mentioned you can easily get the statistics to know what is required for adequate staffing. It is after all a statutory requirement for public safety, that the police have.

 

[M@tt]

It would be extremely interesting to learn how many hours it takes to process an application/renewal. Obviously some will be more complicated than others and there'll be the odd enquiry to another force or other body that is out of the hands of the dealing force. But there'll be an average time. It's also a simple thing for any force to know how many certificate holders are in their area and potentially how many grant applications they might get, given previous years numbers.

For BCH the average is around 6hrs per renewal or grant to do the checks. The same checks are done for both.
They are processing around 100-150 per month, so 1800 per year best case scenario. In 5 years all certs will need to be processed, at current rates that's 9000 out of the 30000 in the tricounty area.

 

[Liveonce]

It's all about numbers and budget. The same dept deals with renewals as with grants and there are thousands in the county. And every grant requires a home visit

not about budget anymore they now have full cost recovery … oh but wait we all know that will likely make no difference to staffing levels within the firearms licensing teams.