Police request to remove a photo from facebook for renewal

Might just be a police force being over cautious because they have seen an uptick in the number of firearms holders houses being targeted in the area.
So maybe enquire as to the rationale for their request and go from there. At the end of the day it’s only a photo
 
They can ask but cant enforce. It is not proportionate as mentioned look at some of our world champions. However I would agree if you weren't a professional athlete and it was your profile picture.
 
Has anyone experienced this before?

Had a phone call today to let me know that my FAC/ SGC renewal has just been processed and renewed, all good. It was then mentioned that I have a photo uploaded to my facebook page in 2016 of me holding a shotgun. I was told 'we don't like people putting up pictures that might advertise that they are licence holders', and could I please have a look and take it down?

The only picture I can find from 2016, doesn't show my face, and is a photo (from behind) of me shooting at clay on the 'have-a-go' clay line at the Game Fair. Hardly advertising that I either do or don't own guns, its a public event that many people who don't own guns go to and have a go shooting at. Although I accept that the general public probably won't recognise that.

This wasn't mentioned at my last renewal in 2021 so seems a bit odd to bring it up now.
I have plenty of other shooting related photos up on my page of me at clay grounds etc... they have not been brought up.

I did point out that shooting is a legal hobby and my FB is locked down tight due to the nature of my work, so only people who know me can find me. I'm not publicly 'findable'.

I was told that viewpoint is understandable, but they'd still rather I remove the photo.

I don't really care either way, I'll probably do it just to avoid an argument, got plenty of other things to spend my emotional energy on right now!

Is it not really a big deal, or is this the thin end of the wedge of over reach and control?

Anyone else had similar?

Jim
How on earth did they know about the photo if your profile isn't public? I also have similar photos on Facebook. Again I'm on a friends only, completely private setting.
 
How on earth did they know about the photo if your profile isn't public? I also have similar photos on Facebook. Again I'm on a friends only, completely private setting.
Even if you have your own privacy settings buttoned-up, it only takes one of your friends to tag you in that image and it will appear on their own page. If they have an open account, then your name and image can appear in the open. Verify the following:

How to turn on Tag Review
  1. Open the Facebook app or website and go to your Settings.
  2. Scroll down to the Audience and visibility section and tap Profile and tagging.
  3. Look for the Reviewing section and find Review tags people add to your posts before the tags appear on Facebook?
  4. Turn this setting ON.
 
Unfortunately FLDs can be a bit selective on which bits of HO guidance that they observe and which they don't.
On every renewal interview I can remember the feo has mentioned not letting friends/neighbours know I have firearms and not to publicise it on social media when that became a thing.
 
On every renewal interview I can remember the feo has mentioned not letting friends/neighbours know I have firearms and not to publicise it on social media when that became a thing.

so your friends you shoot with are not allowed to know you own guns, and if your neighbours are that bad may be consider moving, may be next door to the FEO would be nice and safe.

Why do we put up with this rubbish.
 
On every renewal interview I can remember the feo has mentioned not letting friends/neighbours know I have firearms and not to publicise it on social media when that became a thing.
And if you think your posts on here are anonymous, think again.
Anyone who knows how can get your real identity from your social media posts.
I'm no expert in this, but even so when I posted a similar comment on here in the past (in response to someone being less than discreet about their firearms security arrangements) the chap didn't believe me, yet within half an hour I had been able to find his real name, his address, his mobile number and his email address. Just from the info available on this site.

And you've just stated on here, a social media site, that you have firearms. As we all do.
 
How on earth did they know about the photo if your profile isn't public? I also have similar photos on Facebook. Again I'm on a friends only, completely private setting.

I had a renewal this year. They knew all my social media accounts, FB, instagram and the likes. I don’t use some of them. You can see what’s on friend only fb accounts by finding their friends and looking at their accounts
 
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