Scottish FA centralisation.

[RED-DOT]

I have heard that due to cutbacks that the 8 Scottish FA licensing regions are to be homologated into 1 in a kind of DVLE style.. At least we will get the same interpretaions of the Home office "Guidelines" which is widely abused by some of the areas. I for one am all for it.

 

[CWMMAN3738]

great idea but will it work in practice? i wouldn't hold me breath, if the officers stay the same, some of the old ways are bound to creap in, unless they replace them all which would cause more problems, i fear that unless the guidelines are written down in stone then personal enterpritation will allways play a part. We need the goverment to revise & simplify firearms law and issue specific enterpritations of that law so that everyone sings from the same hyme sheet.

 

[2434me]

I hope they give it to Grampian! Never had a problem yet with them.

 

[hunterscabin]

i havnt been informed of this yet .
The only problem i can see is that each police force has there own systems of isuuing licences
and grampian are at the moment changing from having seperate shotgun and firearms licences to one consolidated licence.

But we will have to wait aqnd see if this ever happens.

steve

 

[Sinistral]

I read your post, but don't believe it.

This requires primary legislation as the format of SGC's and FAC's is prescribed in the 1968 Act..... and hasn't been devolved to the Scottish Executive.

If you know something, post up some links so we can read all about it. I'm always interested in facts.

 

[1873gus]

Grampian can't be bringing in a single certificate as legislation doesn't allow it

 

[reiver]

What has firearm licensing got to do with the Scotish FA ? do you get a Ranger's or Celtic shooting certificate

 

[RED-DOT]

This is a stalking forum so FireArms?

 

[reiver]

Red-dot
surely you mean firearms
TTFN.

Bob

 

[glogin]

Centralisation is always a bad idea, I can understand that some constabularies are better than other but I can bet big central firearms office will be worse that the worst local office today. Government will screw everything it touches. It will screw this up as well. Have faith in your government.

 

[308boy]

I say bring it on, how can centralisation be a bad thing. Same laws same interpretation from one source. Is the DVLA a screw up?

In Scotland we need one police force not umpteen and this should also help.

Less beaurocracy and beaurocrats gets my vote everyday.

But I do concede the will probably furk it up by undermanning it with untrained staff .

 

[Orion]

Is the DVLA a screw up?

Is that rhetorical?

Yup it can be. If you've ever sent an old style driving licence in and had the new one back with some of the entitlements missed off then I'd say they are. Happened wholesale to car drivers who had their motorcycle passes taken off and they couldn't get them reinstated even with photocopies of the previous ones - some police traffic officers as well!

Couple of times they have sent me a fixed penalty fine letter for failure to declare SORN - even though I'd had an RFL refund cheque back off them and I'd declared SORN on the same form.

Gotta say that I'd still prefer some form of centralised firearms admin though - they'd have to play by some set of rules, (HO Guidance anyone?), and it might be easier for the shooting orgs to apply pressure at one point.

 

[bobthedug]

This is a rumour that I suspect comes due to SOME Chief Constables advocating a single Scottish Police Force which has recently been in the headlines.
Centralisation was very much in the fashion a few years ago within all Police Forces but Firearms Licensing remained relatively untouched when most other Departments were subject to "modernisation".
If such a thing were to happen it most certainly would not occur overnight as new Legislation would have to be brought in and unless such Legislation is for the benefit of our MSP's, they won't be in a hurry to do so.
I think the fact that all Forces Firearms Licensing Departments are kept very busy, the same personnel would need to be involved doing the relevant physical checks and the likelihood of local offices and staff being reduced/redeployed seem unlikely if indeed it was introduced.
Well, thats my tuppence worth.
ATB,
Bob

 

[diverdave]

Grampian is pushing for everyone to have a co terminus licence. A pal who was having his SG cert renewed had the re inspection and was sent both his SG and FAC, with the same finish date. Kind of makes sense as they inspect once not twice. it makes no difference to the end user, it just reduces the admin and inspections.

I believe the scottish forces will amalgamate very soon. From what i hear and read there is a huge push for this to happen to the police and fire service. if this is the case then centralisation and standardisation to save costs must be the aim, but if it works remains to be seen. i think local inspectors will remain and all that will change is the bosses

 

[mark-joppa]

Just caught this on the news tonight,looks like one Scottish Police Force is a step closer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14841802

 

[glogin]

Ups, should apply for a variation before they make changes..
Oh, and buy an air rifle before nazi Alex ban them.

 

[sikamalc]

I have heard that due to cutbacks that the 8 Scottish FA licensing regions are to be homologated into 1 in a kind of DVLE style.. At least we will get the same interpretaions of the Home office "Guidelines" which is widely abused by some of the areas. I for one am all for it.

Hmm I wouldnt be too quick to agree on this, one only has to look at the cock ups with attempting to ammalgamte other organisations within Scotland.

Where ever civil servants and politicians are involved it never ever does what is says on the packet. It will only take one official in charge of a centralised system playing the heavy hand and you will all come under the same problem.

I am not putting the idea down, I am saying be cautious.

 

[Tamus]

I'm licensed through Strathclyde Police and my son through Lothian and Borders. We share guns. It is us who have to tell the left hand what the right hand is doing because their respective databases don't/can't/won't (take your pick) communicate.

I would imagine we'll all still be dealing with our own "local" Firearms Licensing Office(s) (ers) for the foreseable, even if the forces try merging.

FWIW, I reckon we'll still have most of the same regional staff for all the other aspects of Policing and rather than save money we'll actually see an increase in spending because of the new level of staff that will be ensconced at the top ... call me a cynic if you like