Metropolitan Police online FAC renewal - what to expect?

[DWH2]

I’ve had an open cert with the Met for ~30 years but I am about to launch the online FAC renewal process for the first time. Can anyone with recent Met renewal experience advise what to expect?
One of my referees has asked how they will be contacted (phone, email etc) and any guidance on what the Met’s medical/GP requirements are....and how they follow up checking permissions. ....and in this COVID era, is a home visit on or off the agenda?

Thanks

 

[ColinJ]

Mine went through just before lockdown. Can’t say I noticed a difference. FEO turned up for the obligatory interview and it all went very smoothly.

 

[tedsalad]

Did mine a few weeks ago, follow up video call. Full check, serial numbers etc, very efficient, knowledgeable FEO.
Referees contacted by phone. Ticket came through about a week later. Couldn't have been easier. Impressive.

 

[Stalker62]

If it does not go your way then video the entire encounter and post it on YouTube.
Then get hold of the press and tell them "Your heart is broken" and that you have been "profiled".

This will lead to two investigations by the DPS (Internal Affairs) who will (because the entire interaction was filmed) be able to properly exonerate the Police.
Ensure that one member (at least) of your family is famous or in the public eye.
This will lead to an apology by a senior Police Officer for any "upset" the interaction caused you.

Re-post the interaction and link it to ongoing global protests and declare that you are;- "Thinking of going down the legal route".

This will lead to a personal apology from the head of the Metropolitan Police.
The matter will then be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and additionally another internal review (conducted by a very senior officer) about the whole process.

It will also lead to the extinguishing of the final piece of morale from a massively depleted body of men and women trying to do an impossible job with absolutely no support from anyone.

 

[DWH2]

Did mine a few weeks ago, follow up video call. Full check, serial numbers etc, very efficient, knowledgeable FEO.
Referees contacted by phone. Ticket came through about a week later. Couldn't have been easier. Impressive.

Thanks for the info....what GP/Medical report did they require, if any? I phoned the GP Reception Desk to ask how they handled FAC medical references, and what needed to be done, but the receptionist clearly had no idea of what I was asking about.
Thanks

 

[tedsalad]

No idea, but it's not a place I frequent and on the odd occassions I have been Ive never seen the same doctor so I don't see how they could add any anything positive or negative.

 

[ColinJ]

No report or letter required, just the Dr’s details. I have no idea whether they were contacted.

 

[daman]

Renewed mine at the height of the lockdown. Very professional service from my FEO - we did it over Whatsapp - pulled all the firearms from the cabinet and checked the serials. New ticket arrived shortly after with a minor issue which was put right by return of post.

I didn't need a medical cert and I think only one of my references was contacted by phone.

As usual very impressed with the Mets efficiency.

 

[DWH2]

Renewed mine at the height of the lockdown. Very professional service from my FEO - we did it over Whatsapp - pulled all the firearms from the cabinet and checked the serials. New ticket arrived shortly after with a minor issue which was put right by return of post.

I didn't need a medical cert and I think only one of my references was contacted by phone.

As usual very impressed with the Mets efficiency.

Thanks for the info re the renewal/medical. I also recently experienced good service - I know the Met FEO dept was under pressure a few months ago, during ‘peak COVID’, and I had a 1 for 1 held up for a few weeks. But a uniformed team leader there explained that the Met has more uniformed officers involved in their FLD process than many constabularies, so were very short staffed, as many of the uniformed officers were understandably redeployed on COVID related stuff. It was processed very quickly once they restarted! Hopefully the renewal will be straight forward.