Notts Police grants and variations freeze - BASC statement

[Conor O'Gorman]

Notts Police freeze grants and variations to tackle renewals after the ‘perfect storm’

BASC is calling on Nottinghamshire Chief Constable to immediately rectify the licensing department’s decision to only accept renewals for the foreseeable future.

Our actions followed an announcement by Nottinghamshire Police that they will disregard grants and variations until January 2021. They quote a perfect storm of COVID disruptions, changes in personnel and a period of high demand.

Paul Dale, BASC’s head of firearms, said: “This announcement is of Nottinghamshire Police’s making and they need to prioritise the issue with immediate effect. Their failure to perform a statutory duty has left lawful BASC members, residents and businesses with no hope of successfully applying for grants and variations.

“BASC is in communication with the Chief Constable and local MPs to ensure they are aware of the seriousness of this issue. We are also working closely with the licensing department to get their system back to full function.”

Notts Police freeze grants and variations to tackle renewals after the ‘perfect storm’ - BASC

BASC is in communication with the Chief Constable and local MPs to ensure they are aware of the seriousness of this issue.

basc.org.uk

 

[Greenmist]

We are also working closely with the licensing department to get their system back to full function.”

Notts Police freeze grants and variations to tackle renewals after the ‘perfect storm’ - BASC

BASC is in communication with the Chief Constable and local MPs to ensure they are aware of the seriousness of this issue.

basc.org.uk

What does that entail please?

 

[Tf223]

If I were a licensee there and were awaiting a variation, I’d ask for a letter confirming that they were not processing the app, and then apply for an appeal via the mags court for non-determination.

That’ll get them moving, decide it, or them spend hours in a court hearing to hear how they’ve failed.

There is little justification on a licensing service having not adapted now to provide a statutory service. Local authorities who deal with dozens of different licence types for a range of sectors (taxi, scrap metal, alcohol, gambling, street trading, animal licensing) have on the whole long since returned to ‘normal’ service.

BASC, as also the IoL for local authorities, should be offering to support those forces saying they ‘can’t’ process them... this should quickly demonstrate that none of the issues are insurmountable and can be addressed, especially by now.

 

[terrier1]

Let's seen what happens. Would bet on nothing. But will give prays if they get this sorted. I have worked all the way through the pandemic and so have my two sons. Why can't they.

 

[nun_hunter]

I would be happy not to hear this stuff from BASC but presume others are in'awe'.

Why don't you use the block function on all the BASC employees on this forum and then you wouldn't see any posts? Life is so much better when you choose not to see/expose yourself to things that irritate you or have no relevance to you.

 

[kes]

The clue is inthe title, .... of course you'd rather not hear it, you are not in Notts..... scroll on and don't comment.

If I was in Notts I would be happy something had been said, whether it is effective or not a statement by BASC certainly does no harm.

Is BASC recruiting or can it not personalise its members e-mails to the point where those in Notts get the advice directly ? As for what they are doing, every experience I can remember results in nothing but problems - they have no clout as per .................. you fill in the dots.......................................................
I have no need to read their posts on here since there is always their website for 'NEWS' Latest News | The British Association for Shooting and Conservation if one is interested and every article thread on page 1 is replicated there.

I find 8 posts on the first page overkill. Maybe a specific thread on BASC news would be appropriate for those who NEED to see BASC stuff on here.
As for 'harm' it is for the owners to decide whether this BASC posting is the purpose they intended for "LEGAL ISSUES".
I can avoid BASC membership but to avoid further BASC posts I will need to avoid this site and PW etc. Perhaps the easiest way to respond to criticism is thought to be a monsoon of irrelevant replicated news posts ?

 

[Heym SR20]

The sooner the mainland UK adopts a licencing system like say Northern Ireland or anywhere else for that matter the better.

FAC holder is safe to use and hold rifles. FAC can have up to 5 rifles.

does it really matter from a public safety perspective whether its a 6.5 CM or 6.5x55 or 308 or 222-300 win mag.

of course it doesn’t.

FAC should be granted. If you want to change a rifle sell one then get another.

 

[8x57]

If the police can't or aren't prepared to do the job give responsibility to an organisation that will do the job.
Whenever it's been suggested before that firearms licensing become the responsibility of a national firearms licensing bureau they've always objected and insist that it is one of their duties. Well "police service" do your duty.

 

[Mike L]

I find 8 posts on the first page overkill. Maybe a specific thread on BASC news would be appropriate for those who NEED to see BASC stuff on here.
As for 'harm' it is for the owners to decide whether this BASC posting is the purpose they intended for "LEGAL ISSUES".

So if the said owners of the site are OK with BASC's posts, you as a non supportive member of this site will stop bleating, yes or no?

 

[filzee]

Here in Notts is has been an issue for years. Most renewals take at least 6 months and new applications have been taking almost a year.

 

[Mike L]

Here in Notts is has been an issue for years. Most renewals take at least 6 months and new applications have been taking almost a year.

That's really crazy!, thank god my local FEO/office wallers are on the ball.

 

[8x57]

Playing devil's advocate here, while I am fully understanding of a temporary suspension in service due to the "perfect storm" I don't think stopping service for any length of time is either reasonable or understandable.
I wonder if a charge of neglect of duty could be levied against the Chief Constable?
I also wonder what Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary views are on the matter.

 

[terrier1]

Playing devil's advocate here, while I am fully understanding of a temporary suspension in service due to the "perfect storm" I don't think stopping service for any length of time is either reasonable or understandable.
I wonder if a charge of neglect of duty could be levied against the Chief Constable?

Why not ask BASC if you are a member?

 

[8x57]

I am no longer a member of BASC but it would be interesting to see if the NGO to which I do belong have made any comment either publicly or privately.

 

[cjm1066]

Dear Chief Constable

FAC **********

My certificate expires on 17 October, alas I am very busy at the moment and may not have time to complete the renewal documents until January 2021.

I take it this will be acceptable, as it is in line with your priorities?


Luckily I don't live in Notts

 

[stalker.308]

Is BASC recruiting or can it not personalise its members e-mails to the point where those in Notts get the advice directly ? As for what they are doing, every experience I can remember results in nothing but problems - they have no clout as per .................. you fill in the dots.......................................................
I have no need to read their posts on here since there is always their website for 'NEWS' Latest News | The British Association for Shooting and Conservation if one is interested and every article thread on page 1 is replicated there.

I find 8 posts on the first page overkill. Maybe a specific thread on BASC news would be appropriate for those who NEED to see BASC stuff on here.
As for 'harm' it is for the owners to decide whether this BASC posting is the purpose they intended for "LEGAL ISSUES".
I can avoid BASC membership but to avoid further BASC posts I will need to avoid this site and PW etc. Perhaps the easiest way to respond to criticism is thought to be a monsoon of irrelevant replicated news posts ?

can't you just ignore basc posts, and therefore not see it in your feed? Shame to leave the site if it is just one poster that is causing you to leave?

 

[Mike L]

Like I thought, fizzled out like an old shamooli.

 

[Liveonce]

If you live in Notts and are not happy about it make a formal complaint against the chief constable via your crime commissioners office, but do not agree to local resolution as that is just Notts police investigating themselves so expect that to result in them finding no case to answer, request that the IOPC investigate your complaint.

 

[terrier1]

I would be happy not to hear this stuff from BASC but presume others are in'awe'.

No BASC has come on here and said they are going to sort this out. So let's see what happens. I live in Notts so I will be watching this with interest.

 

[Stalker62]

Like I thought, fizzled out like an old shamooli.

Right, So I had to google that:-

"Refers to the nickname given by military personnel to illumination flares that are used on the battlefield to light large areas up".

Years ago I lived in Hertfordshire and for reasons that I can no longer recall, my Dive Club were parking their RIB on my driveway.
One night (eons before CV) we were all gathered for a bit of a BBQ and a few beers.
At some stage two flares were produced from the RIB and it was noticed that they were out of date. They were out of date by fifteen years.

How best to dispose of them? We were all drunk. You know how it is...

Standing on the driveway of a semi-detached in Hemel Hempstead, two distress flares were fired off simultaneously.

A big whoosh and lots of smoke. One of the flares just disappeared like a rocket and was never seen again. The second flare shot into the air and then deployed under a parachute.
It was burning like an incendiary device (which of course it was) and slowing parachuting its way back down to terra firma.

The reality of what we had done had a sobering effect - which manifested itself by grown men running back inside the house and praying to the Gods that no property was damaged by our stupidity.

Yeah shamooli, now I remember...