Temporary certificate

Rogerp

Well-Known Member
Received a email today from Herts, Beds & Cambs to inform me that I’ve been granted a 6 month temporary firearms certificate, my expiry date was 2/7 (submitted renewal in March) had the usual 3 month extension that expires next week, now been given the above. Can they really be that far behind?
 
On a Facebook pigeon shooting group last week a question was asked about timescales for Cambs and all the replies talked of delays of months so don’t be suprised if it’s a while yet.
 
Received a email today from Herts, Beds & Cambs to inform me that I’ve been granted a 6 month temporary firearms certificate, my expiry date was 2/7 (submitted renewal in March) had the usual 3 month extension that expires next week, now been given the above. Can they really be that far behind?
I renewed April last year, submitted 10 weeks in advance and it was done on time.
 
Sounds like a Section 7 Temporary Permit.
They come in two types:
  • Possession Only
  • Possession and Use
Thing is, it cannot acquire either ammunition or additional firearms under a S7.

Best to check which version you are given.

They are primarily designed for widows/widowers so they dispose of guns or apply for they own FAC/SGC.
 
I applied for my FAC grant a year ago with Herts, Beds and Cambs and havent had the interview yet, only had some communications from them to basically say "were short staffed and work has increased because of policy changes, we cant even tell you how long it will be" so yeah they're quite far behind.
A club in Cambs did an FOI request with them and the numbers aren't great:

Question 4: What is the current backlog in renewals?
Response on 13 May: 1347
Question 5: What is the current backlog in grants?
Response on 13 May: 892
 
Sounds like a Section 7 Temporary Permit.
They come in two types:
  • Possession Only
  • Possession and Use
Thing is, it cannot acquire either ammunition or additional firearms under a S7.

Best to check which version you are given.

They are primarily designed for widows/widowers so they dispose of guns or apply for they own FAC/SGC.
They don’t, they come in possession only (see section 7 of the Firearms Act) though provided there’s no specific condition to the contrary they do not restrict use.
 
They don’t, they come in possession only (see section 7 of the Firearms Act) though provided there’s no specific condition to the contrary they do not restrict use.
That might be the letter of the law, but some of the forces with huge backlogs are issuing Possession and Use permits to avoid the problem of delayed renewals.

Also mentioned by BASC in their guidance

 
That might be the letter of the law, but some of the forces with huge backlogs are issuing Possession and Use permits to avoid the problem of delayed renewals.

Also mentioned by BASC in their guidance


Section 7 permits are for possession and use. "A person who has obtained from the chief officer of police for the area in which he resides a permit for the purpose in the prescribed form may, without holding a certificate under this Act, have in his possession a firearm and ammunition in accordance with the terms of the permit".

The police have no authorisation to sanction or prohibit use under section 7.
 

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That might be the letter of the law, but some of the forces with huge backlogs are issuing Possession and Use permits to avoid the problem of delayed renewals.

Also mentioned by BASC in their guidance

I think you have misunderstood what I was getting at, they are all ‘possession and use’ as they do not exclude use. Unless a condition was added to do so.
 
I think you have misunderstood what I was getting at, they are all ‘possession and use’ as they do not exclude use. Unless a condition was added to do so.
I must disagree.
Section 7 issued in cases of bereavement are specifically "Possession only" and intended to allow the legal holding and subsequent disposal after probate is granted.
"Use" is such circumstances is specifically prohibited.
 
I must disagree.
Section 7 issued in cases of bereavement are specifically "Possession only" and intended to allow the legal holding and subsequent disposal after probate is granted.
"Use" is such circumstances is specifically prohibited.
In which case, presumably, a condition would be added that prohibits use, which is exactly what @25 Sharps is saying, I think.
 
I must disagree.
Section 7 issued in cases of bereavement are specifically "Possession only" and intended to allow the legal holding and subsequent disposal after probate is granted.
"Use" is such circumstances is specifically prohibited.
Also I think it is only a 3 month cert to allow people to hold the guns while sorting out the affairs/will.
 
I have not seen a S7 permit, but am lead to.understand there are two sets of standard wording, rather than on standard with variable Conditions.
Either way, the result is the same.......holders need to read the next carefully.
 
What a ridiculous situation, surely if you can be trusted for six months, you can be trusted for the full term, I hoped you've raised this with your MP and PCC, @Conor O'Gorman is this even legal?
What a ridiculous comment.
What they’re saying is that they haven’t had a chance to look at his application. No more, no less!
 
I have not seen a S7 permit, but am lead to.understand there are two sets of standard wording, rather than on standard with variable Conditions.
Either way, the result is the same.......holders need to read the next carefully.
Someone has posted one above!

If it does not prohibit use specifically then it allows it.
 
Condition 3 in the example posted specifically allows use.
I have heard of people getting S7 that state "legal possession" without mention of use.
I would argue that possession means just that, and unless 'use ' is specifically stated, then in this case it is prohibited. Otherwise widows/widower could use a S7 to shoot, despite never having been granted a certificate.
 
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