Social media checks

[Benelli m2]

The home office has told all police forces to do social media checks on all gun owners
And be more thorough when granting licences
So I think we have been let of lightly

 

[Mike L]

Do you have a HO link please?

 

[Benelli m2]

I see it on BBC news it's in the papers as well

 

[Morkai]

Have to see what the criteria is unless theyre looking for you ranting like this neckbeard did then I cant see it being much good and more of a comfort blanket from the home secretary to the general public.

What will be deemed acceptable, who makes the decision. Are jokes, memes, banter etc ok?

If Jimmy Carr or Frankie Boyle apply for a certificate but the local force doesnt like some of their unsavoury jokes would they get a cert?

Would openly religious people get a cert because the local authorities find parts of their religion abhorrent?

Will the gov give the granting bodies more resource or will they have to cope and slow them down?

 

[Tazz]

On a personal level it won’t take them long to do my social media check SD is the only forum I am on

 

[long_range_rob]

AFAIK checking open media sources was and is business as usual on any grant or renewal. It’s not something that worries me.

 

[Benelli m2]

I'm on Facebook but going to delete myself cos anyone can scam your account and make out it's you

 

[Franchi Matt]

I use an alias account on social media... having just checked my actual name against users- thankfully they all look a well rounded bunch of individuals not a redneck or loon in site

 

[Morkai]

I use an alias account on social media... having just checked my actual name against users- thankfully they all look a well rounded bunch of individuals not a redneck or loon in site

I suspect they will ask you to list your usernames for the varjous platforms on your application.

 

[Liveonce]

Is that a retrospective check I wonder or on applications going forward, if the latter they will need a lot more staff.
Just delete the accounts prior to application and after granted the certificate open them again simple.

Can be a new feature on SD “click hear to close your account if applying/renewing a gun licence”

 

[takbok]

They'll never have enough staff to monitor social media effectively.

 

[Liveonce]

On a personal level it won’t take them long to do my social media check SD is the only forum I am on

That makes two of us.

 

[Tazz]

There will be much talk about “social media checks” but in the current economic circumstances it will come down to cost, the police forces don’t have the money and I very much doubt central government will fund it

 

[Tazz]

That makes two of us.

Fortunate for us two, however I imagine there are a small group of SGC/FAC holders who have posted some “Excitable/inappropriate“ comments in the past on social media having a nervous start to the week

 

[Liveonce]

Big brother is watching ……… you have been warned ….. robocop will be visiting you soon ………

 

[opticron1]

You (and I ) should always be a bit cautious about what is put on the social media stage for all to see/read. In my professional capacity I had to be aware of what was written about me and by me as it would impact on my professional registration. I was always surprised how much drivel and dross that my colleagues put on social media under their own name - even with a pseudonym it's easy to follow people - and once or twice I have known of people who have lost job opportunities due to incautious rants/statements on "social" media.
Gaining a SGC or FAC will be just another example of how your public image will be inspected to see if you are a fit and proper person...... in all honesty I'm surprised it hasn't been brought in/proposed before now.
I can see an increase in the fees coming on the back of this idea to pay for extra staff and the time to monitor your social media interests.....and no doubt you'll be expected to let the licencing authorities know of any social media accounts you use under your own name or a nom-de-plume!

 

[Utectok]

Personally I already am very careful what I put on social media (fb + here) Maybe this will shut the opinionated loudmouths up!

 

[Liveonce]

Monitoring every certificate owner multiple social media accounts in real time will be like breaking the German enigma code, challenging to say the least.

Then what? Monitor every phone call or text message?

 

[Woodsmoke]

I can't see this being effective in any way whatsoever. Firearms departments are woefully understaffed and overstretched as it is, and in any case, FB profiles can be locked down to limit what can be publicly-viewed. In my case, I tend not to use FB to air any political, and/or social views, nor do I plaster my feed with click-bait nonsense or pictures of dead deer, so anyone looking to gain an insight into my psyche is likely to remain unfulfilled.

Mind you, if my latest uploaded photo is anything to go by . . . .

 

[TH4]

Since when did anyone believe what they heard on BBC news