Hi all,
Open FAC holder for both deer and fox on .308, .243 and .223 along with .22lr and .17HMR ground game and vermin. Shotguns also.
Arrived home on a Tuesday afternoon rather ironically with a new rifle collected from Gun Shop Rugby. Had been indoors for no more than 10 minutes waiting for the kettle to boil after a two and a half hour slog down the M1 and onto the M25 and back into Surrey, when a uniformed PC accompanied with a gentleman whom I recognised as one of Surrey Constabulary’s FEOs walked past the window. So, went outside to say, “Hello.” Well, the upshot is that they wanted to do a Firearms check. “Not a problem, come indoors and have a tea or coffee” says I
So we looked at all of my rifles, suppressors, moderators and shotguns everything in order I believe, bolts separate and the like, all the while with both my wife and three-and-a-half-year-old daughter present very happy and not worried in the least and my daughter being rather taken with the PC’s hat that incidentally she wore the whole of the time.
The interview was perfectly professional, respectful and polite, at the same time business-like and took about an hour and a half. Talked about lots of things including recent events north of the border and the impact that that may have in the future on legitimate FAC holders.
Now here comes the good part. One of the questions that was asked of me was, “Did I have or have I had any problems with any of my neighbours”? And answered in truth, “Yes” and I named her. Also, that we have had and still have several different court cases pending over such issues as parking, our garage, repairs or rather lack of repairs to our period property, maintenance and such like the first one of which we won for several thousand pounds along with costs. The individual we are talking about who, had been a close friend of my wife for a number of years whom we had recently fallen out with in part over these issues had made some allegation or a call of concern involving myself and my firearms exactly for what they could not say, and, understandably so. This is a woman that suffers with depression, is on medication and, this is the best bit...........she’s a Priest. I guess “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” Exodus 20:16 has no meaning to a person of the Church?
All joking aside I had indeed mentioned this to my Barrister some time ago which was minuted in his notes that I was indeed fearful of the possibility that a person here might do something like this as we have lived here for fifteen years and the other eleven people that live within the building of which six are Directors that we currently have these ongoing issues with know of my interests and pursuits and, that I possess firearms.
Other neighbours that live both in the road and surrounding area are great friends, and up until this we have never had so much as a crossed word with anybody.
I have to say however in fairness to Surrey Police that during the interview, at no time was I made to feel that I had done anything wrong and that it was just something that they had to do as a matter of routine and would consequently report back to Police Headquarters.
Now I’ve been dealing with the Police and the local authorities for many years having had Nightclubs and Bars and still hold the belief that it is better in the long run to be as cooperative as possible all the while being careful. Cover yourself, follow up in writing or, Email and ask for a response. Maybe we are incredibly fortunate in Surrey for the FEO’s that we have here?
I know that some of you are thinking, “Two sides to every coin.” I would be too! But please believe me this is exactly how it both is and was. I just thought that I would share this with you because of the relationship to the original post. By the way this all happened back in November 2010.
Mickey308
