Waiting Times for Lancs FAC

[Spaniel]

At the end of last year I had an horrendous time with GMP. That's all in the past now.

I lost my clip for my .22 rf a couple of weeks ago and I am unable to find a replacement. I sent in a variation form for an extra slot on my FAC, for a replacement .22, just in case I found my original clip, I could still use my old tried and trusted rifle. The thought of the debacle I had been through last year was troubling me.

However, last Monday i bit the bullet, (metaphor of course) I sent the variation form in with my £20. I sent a photo copy of my FAC rather than the original, and low and behold last Friday on my hallway mat was my Varied FAC. 4 days!!!

I did buy a lottery ticket believing my luck had changed. No not a number, still skint but alive and healthy with my FAC! The lottery of how long you wait is I think exactly that, a lottery.

Thanks GMP!! Credit when credits due?

Spaniel

 

[Rasputin]

Got a very nice email from the CI of the Firearms part of Lancashire Police. So obviously my complaint was escalated up the food chain which I am happy about. They are currently running at 6 month lag from reception of form. With priority to existing FAC holders for Variations and Renewals. I thought from my initial contact it would mean potentially receiving my FAC in Jan 17 but looks like it would be in October time which is fine.

I did express my dismay at the system and how if 10 people a day applied for a certificate of any type and it took 4 hours to process each one then it would equate to something daft like 3 years work for one person thus entering a vicious cycle thats ex renewals and variations. Hopefully it doesn't get that bad and we see light at the end of the tunnel. Frustrating as hell but such is life.

 

[Rasputin]

Just to update in case anyone is searching for this. I have my interview/visit next week almost 6 months to the day my application went in. The FEO sounded very nice when he called to be fair to him. But the system still sucks!

 

[Irish Bob]

Applied for a variation with Northumbria. Took 3 weeks from application to recieving. Very good service.

Mine with Cheshire was the same. Called after one week to see if everything was in order. Was told I would have it in two weeks and I did.

 

[Xtrema]

A friend of mine here in Surrey had to wait exactly 2 months for his co terminus FAC/SGC application and he moaned about the wait for that!
He did pester them though.

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

put my renewal in june,its due october had visit new refs etc every things hunkydory they said last week give us a call back nxt week guess what it will be oct then ,its ok if its any longer we will issue a temp sec7?and they are not short staffed because one of the new staff gave me the info,

 

[Orion]

its ok if its any longer we will issue a temp sec7?

Maybe okay for them, but it'll be your live quarry shooting finished until the FAC arrives.

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

 

[Rasputin]

put my renewal in june,its due october had visit new refs etc every things hunkydory they said last week give us a call back nxt week guess what it will be oct then ,its ok if its any longer we will issue a temp sec7?and they are not short staffed because one of the new staff gave me the info,

Thats really bad. I was told the back log for new issues was due to renewals rightly having priority.

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

NAW on there site they say allow 14wks and thats for renews or new apps ,the last bloke i spoke to said the new staff where all playing catch up,he couldn,t see mine anywhere?so it must be on someones desk?and that was 2weeks ago,

 

[Rasputin]

NAW on there site they say allow 14wks and thats for renews or new apps ,the last bloke i spoke to said the new staff where all playing catch up,he couldn,t see mine anywhere?so it must be on someones desk?and that was 2weeks ago,

14 weeks haha they are full of ****. I have it on record from the CI that it's six months. Shine!! Hopefully you get it sorted. I'm longing for my visit and paper before the buck seaosn ends but doubt it TBH.

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

update my temp s7 just fell through the door!!

 

[Rasputin]

update my temp s7 just fell through the door!!

Happy days then. Everyone's a winner. Hopefully get something similar this week ����

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

hopefully the proper one will soon follow!!another update you couldn,t make it up,both certs coterminious sect 7 fell through door on saturday,checked them over fac upto feb 2017,sgc upto aug 2017?,,,,rang them they said everythings (hunkydory ) as long as i,ve got four months on,,,,i should have proper ones before then!!

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

Maybe okay for them, but it'll be your live quarry shooting finished until the FAC arrives.

Just a querie on my section 7 it says permit to possess firearms and/or ammunition,all conditions on it apply as attached to your fac,

 

[Orion]

Just a querie on my section 7 it says permit to possess firearms and/or ammunition,all conditions on it apply as attached to your fac,

Nice try on their part but you cannot have the S.5 expanding ammo exemption on a S.7 Permit - it's quite clearly stated in the Firearms Act 1968 at S.5A(4)(a) that the exemption applies only if:

"he is authorised by a firearm certificate or visitor’s firearm permit to possess, or purchase or acquire, any expanding ammunition;"

and you don't have a valid FAC, ergo you cannot possess expanding on a S.7 Permit and an offence is committed if you still have it.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/27/section/5A

Have you asked the FLD for clarification regarding this?

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

no i read through ,what there is of it ,thats why i queried your reply before,its all printed in bold like a normal cert at the top in black/white permit to possess a firearm and or ammunition,under 68 sect 7 act, i know i cant purchase or aquire ,but this states i can possess so i maybe in my ignorance am assuming i can still shoot till my full cert arrives,?

 

[Orion]

No, in your present circumstances you can't have expanding in your possession period!

Ask the FLD and if they say all your FAC conditions, including the expanding exemption, still apply because they have decided to just write it on the S.7 Permit ask them where in S.5A(4)(a) it says you are allowed to enter the expanding exemption on anything other than a valid FAC or VFP?

If they insist it's all kosher get it in writing, don't leave yourself open to the risk of prosecution.

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

i ve got the s7 her dated til feb 2017 from tenth oct 2016,all in bold type ,the holder of this permit is hereby permitted to have in his possession(but not to purchase or acquire)the firearms and/or ammunition specified below,on the terms that the holder shall: then the four normal conditions, i did querie why its so long she replied its ok you will shortly be recieving the full one,

 

[Orion]

I can't keep on repeating it but you cannot possess (or use) S.5 expanding if all you have is a S.7 Permit. Doesn't matter how the FLD word it or even if they put the full expanding exemption condition on the Permit, (is that what you are saying they have done?) it's not valid and you commit an offence if you remain in possession of your expanding ammo.

I believe unauthorised possession of expanding is also an absolute offence (no excuse) and possibly subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in the clink.