PCC elections: make a difference to the future of firearms licensing

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC has launched a contact platform to allow you to find out where your local Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidates stand on firearms licensing ahead of PCC elections on 2 May 2024.

In England and Wales, PCCs are responsible for holding Chief Constables, who in turn are responsible for service delivery, to account. They also preside over the police budget and Policing Plan.

Consequently, PCCs play a vital part in ensuring your local police force fulfils its statutory obligations on firearms licensing and delivers the service in an efficient and effective manner, while protecting public safety.

We are asking anyone who shoots to email their prospective PCC candidates using our electronic contact platform in advance of the election. The aim of contacting each candidate is establish where they stand on shooting and firearms licensing.

NOTE: Not all candidates are yet to be announced but we will be adding them when their details are released. Please use the site for the candidates that we have and check back for new candidates in your area.

Click the weblink below to get started.

PCC elections and firearms licensing

We need your help to write to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) on firearms licensing in advance of the PCC elections on 2 May.

basc.org.uk

 

[jall55]

As per my post on PW was doing it - but Derbyshire is great - so no need to contact unless you think otherwise or have a more appropriate letter

 

[Dickie]

I thought this was something where BASC had already contacted the candidates and got an answer.
Not a list of contacts that everyone will or has had through the door.

 

[enfieldspares]

I shall be voting for Rory Palmer in Leicestershire as, back when he was an MEP, he was the only one that gave a damn about proactively helping me with problems with the French authorities and my wife's right of entry to France. Taking the matter up with them at the highest level and gaining a successful and correct result against their unlawful attempts to deny my family her proper entitlement to residency there.

The Conservative Candidate, Matthews, even though he is the incumbent PCC I wouldn't give the time of day to. Look up his Wikipedia entry. Sometimes there is more to life than guns. Leicestershire has a good firearms licensing department so I shall vote on the broader picture. But for others in other force areas there may be something in asking the candidates their views.

But for me in Leicestershire I will vote for Rory Palmer. He is a good man and one that listens and helps. Leicestershire would be well served having him as our PCC.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

As per my post on PW was doing it - but Derbyshire is great - so no need to contact unless you think otherwise or have a more appropriate letter

The template text is appropriate for all forces regardless of performance (which can change form good to bad or bad to good in the future) but you can amend it as you wish before you press send.

 

[finnbear270]

Wonder if The Reform candidate could get in here?

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I thought this was something where BASC had already contacted the candidates and got an answer.
Not a list of contacts that everyone will or has had through the door.

For general elections we ask people to contact candidates, and campaign site gets updated along the way, that is why we ask people to contact their candidates. For PCC elections, we ask the same.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

A plea from BASC's Bill Harriman to get involved.

 

[SimpleSimon]

John Paul Campion is the West Mercia PCC. He's a politician through and through, and generally seems very keen on doing things that will make him popular with the electorate whether or not they're likely to improve the Police service in general. But in fairness to him on the firearms issue he has been quite proactive, and has invested quite heavily into the department. West Mercia used to be one of the good ones, and it's now very poor, so hopefully it will start to turn back around now that it's had some money injected.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

A further BASC update here to encourage people to contact their candidate PCCs:

Why your vote matters in the PCC elections

With PCC elections set to take place on 2 May , BASC's Martin Parker addresses the question of why you should cast your vote this time around.

basc.org.uk

 

[finnbear270]

My candidate has replied to basc.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

An article in this week's Shooting Times about the elections:

How will your PCC deal with licensing? - ShootingUK

I have worked as a polling station clerk in various elections over the years and the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) elections are undoubtedly the graveyard shift, with the paucity of visitors making a 16-hour day drag even more interminably. That public apathy about who becomes their PCC...

www.shootinguk.co.uk

 

[spanj]

No response to my enquiry from the Merseyside PCC

 

[charlie222]

I've had no reply from either of the Derbyshire candidates either. As has been stated Derbyshire are very good. However some PPC's might view a well performing department as one that could perhaps have funds diverted from it? I just think it pays to let them know eyes are on them.

 

[stubear]

@Conor O'Gorman I emailed both Tory (Donna) and Labour (Becky W) - I've not heard from Donna at all but I got the below back from the Labour candidate.

"Thank you for your email and questions.

If elected as Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Police and Crime Commissioner, I would expect the police service to fulfil its legal responsibilities in respect of licensing and control of firearms in a way that is both efficient and focuses on public safety.

As you will understand, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police Service is underfunded by central government and resources are limited. This will require some difficult strategic and operational decisions about resource allocation. Whilst I would have strategic responsibility, operational decisions such as the deployment of police officers and staff would be a matter for the Chief Constable.

I can assure you that it would be my intention to be as transparent as possible and would publish key decisions as well as performance data.

If elected, I would be pleased to meet stakeholders to discuss how we can ensure efficient and effective firearm licensing within agreed policy objectives and the legal and financial constraints."

 

[del.gue]

The PCC is something i do not agree with.
The old police authorities were far from perfect but far better.
It was Cameron who decided to politicise them.

 

[Pedro]

Is it just me who thinks when you contact a PCC candidate about shooting, they will say nice, placatory things to you in the hope you cast your vote for them? Then tow the party line should they get elected.

Politicians....

 

[Lee260]

@Conor O'Gorman I emailed both Tory (Donna) and Labour (Becky W) - I've not heard from Donna at all but I got the below back from the Labour candidate.

"Thank you for your email and questions.

If elected as Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Police and Crime Commissioner, I would expect the police service to fulfil its legal responsibilities in respect of licensing and control of firearms in a way that is both efficient and focuses on public safety.

As you will understand, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police Service is underfunded by central government and resources are limited. This will require some difficult strategic and operational decisions about resource allocation. Whilst I would have strategic responsibility, operational decisions such as the deployment of police officers and staff would be a matter for the Chief Constable.

I can assure you that it would be my intention to be as transparent as possible and would publish key decisions as well as performance data.

If elected, I would be pleased to meet stakeholders to discuss how we can ensure efficient and effective firearm licensing within agreed policy objectives and the legal and financial constraints."

That looks like a cut and paste reply. ie insert which ever department you are asking about as they didn't mention anything shooting related specifically.

 

[Mike L]

Waiting to hear back from the only one from 3 local candidates that answered anything at all.

 

[Twodogs]

One of the two Gloucestershire candidates has replied and very quickly. To be fair the other candidate must be given reasonable time.