West Mercia variation tunaround

[stag1933]

Good old Cumbria Constabulary !
Renewal date for mine is the 6th of August and it was returned to me this morning.
First issued on 6th of August 1951 so I have had it for 60 years fortunately without accident or incident.

The down-side is that I do not get a clock for 60 years meritorious service possibly due to the cuts.
Over the years I have treated my lot with consideration and respect and they have treated ME likewise.

HWH.

 

[Rols]

Had a meeting with my FEO last Monday. Chris was as always, professional, courteous and knowledgeable and I'm expecting my ticket back anytime now.

I think the issue with the department is staffing levels, which is apparently getting dealt with

Rich

 

[flytie]

Had a meeting with my FEO last Monday. Chris was as always, professional, courteous and knowledgeable and I'm expecting my ticket back anytime now.

I think the issue with the department is staffing levels, which is apparently getting dealt with

Rich

Is the staffing levels problem at West Mercia Firearms Department being dealt with? Again??????

Beacause when I spoke to them a week ago the chap who rang me up was an FEO. I was told they were all having to do long stints "on the phones" because of yet another staffing crisis. And they were doing the March renewals!

I find the FEO's to be unfailingly helpful, polite and well informed. They are a credit to the service!

But what is going on with the management there that keeps making all the staff walk out? This is the second time in 3 years that this has happened. I realise the "FLIMSEY" computer system had a lot to do with the first mass walk out, but what has caused this second one? Someone need to get a grip on this.

Again, I have written to my MP asking for the department to be properly funded and the management structures to be looked at. If we do not support the department by writing to our MP's then nothing will improve!

Simon

 

[finnbear270]

If some more people were to write to the Chief Constables Staff Officer

, the head of the Police Liason Committee and their MP perhaps their service might get a little quicker than if it's just me doing it.

If you haven't done this, then you only have yourselves to blame, and bleating about it will get you no where.

A little known fact about MP's, they will only do something for you if enough constituents write (or email) to them about a single issue.

The future of the West Mercia Firearms Department is in your hands........................



Simon

This little known avenue is a real good one, brought down a ****load of pressure on them to produce what they are paid for. Just be sure to standing on firm ground with your complaint! this officer can bite both ways!

 

[Rols]

Well I got something back today but not I expected. Had a letter in the post apologising for the inconvenience I may be experiencing whilst waiting for my licence! Due the the department currently experiencing a very high demand for renewals and applications. Apparently it's the busiest licence renewal period the department has ever encountered.

You'd think that given a renewal is every five years it would be reasonably simple to work out the future workload and adjust the staffing levels to meet the demand..

I think it may be time for a letter of complaint.............

 

[theshootist]

My application for renewal of FAC and SGC went in at the end of May. Since then I have had two letters apologising for the delay and asking me not to call on the phone. Prior to receiving these letters I did put a call in as both my existing certificates had by then expired, I was assured that my renewal was in hand and that I would be fine to continue shooting, they did check that I would only be in the west mercia area though... I have now had to call again as I am going to Scotland for a week stalking and clearly I can't trek up there with a .308 and no FAC in my mitts. Hopefully they will issue a temporary permit or my holiday will be scuppered.

I've always found the FEOs to be first rate and to know their stuff, but they clearly need more staff back office.

 

[jay 22]

to big a area and nowhere near enough staff. i dont think half of them know what there doing to be fair

 

[Bandit Country]

I was assured that my renewal was in hand and that I would be fine to continue shooting, they did check that I would only be in the west mercia area though...

I really wouldn't rely on that one if it comes to court. If they don't get your ticket back asap ask for a Section 7 Permit -www.basc.org.uk/.../6DADB271-D8D5-4EEF-B71B486DEB7A38C2.

 

[flytie]

Well I got something back today but not I expected. Had a letter in the post apologising for the inconvenience I may be experiencing whilst waiting for my licence! Due the the department currently experiencing a very high demand for renewals and applications. Apparently it's the busiest licence renewal period the department has ever encountered. This is the same old tosh which they trot out time after time when all the staff have left the department. I do not know why they say it, it has become infamous in the BASC office and with SAC's too

You'd think that given a renewal is every five years it would be reasonably simple to work out the future workload and adjust the staffing levels to meet the demand.. Yep, used that very argument with H. Baldwin MP, The Chief Constable and the Head of the Police Liason Committee!

I think it may be time for a letter of complaint.............

Oh yes please, it's the only way to get them motivated to fund the department properly.

S.

My application for renewal of FAC and SGC went in at the end of May. Since then I have had two letters apologising for the delay and asking me not to call on the phone. Prior to receiving these letters I did put a call in as both my existing certificates had by then expired, I was assured that my renewal was in hand and that I would be fine to continue shooting, they did check that I would only be in the west mercia area though... I have now had to call again as I am going to Scotland for a week stalking and clearly I can't trek up there with a .308 and no FAC in my mitts. Hopefully they will issue a temporary permit or my holiday will be scuppered. You do need to ask for a temporary certificate (Section 7), it brings a shitload of pressure onto the department manager's head. A bit like the 4 hour waiting target in the NHS when they fail. It goes to all the management concerned, even appears on Government statistics and therefore police hate giving them out.

I've always found the FEOs to be first rate and to know their stuff, but they clearly need more staff back office.Just what i have found too![/QUOTE]

S.

I really wouldn't rely on that one if it comes to court. If they don't get your ticket back asap ask for a Section 7 Permit -www.basc.org.uk/.../6DADB271-D8D5-4EEF-B71B486DEB7A38C2.

Bandit has hit the nail squarely on the head, you must apply for a section 7 permit, it drives them mad because of the paper trail it leaves proving the managers are incompetant.

West Mercia are now issuing a nice little letter to preclude you doing this, it says, that the are "In reciept of your FAC/SC and are dealing with it as quickly as possible". Don't fall for it! Ask for a Section 7 permit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simon

 

[theshootist]

Thanks for the advice, I have had two of those letters. The good news is that a day after leaving a message explaining that I need a permit I have received one, so am now covered to go stalking.

 

[theshootist]

I would be interested to hear from anyone else who has been issued a temporary permit. The one I received so quickly recently was for my deer rifle only (so not sure what the status of my other guns is, if you're going to bother with a temorary permit, surely it would cover all the firearms/shotguns you hold?).

Also, while the permit allowed me to hold a .308 rifle and moderator, there was nothing listed in the ammunition section (so no authority to posses or purchase), so I had to rely on the fact that one of the chaps I stalked with last week also had a .308. I'm a bit confused about how these temporary permits are supposed to work, or do they just make it up as they go along?

 

[matt_hooks]

Totally agree shootist. All their assurances about it being ok to carry on are entirely meaningless. Once your certificate expires, with no replacement in place, you are illegally in possession of firearms, I don't need to tell you how seriously the courts take that! As long as you have returned your forms in good time, and everything is in order, then it is entirely unacceptable for them to leave you in a position where you are breaking the law. If they can't get your cert back in time, then a section 7 is entirely appropriate, and should be issued for all weapons held.

 

[CRUMPY]

I am in Staffs, my firearms and shotgun certificate ran out in early August, I had my renewal forms back into them in June, cheque cashed promptly enough but still no ticket, a letter arrived telling me a temp certificate would be issued but none arrived, I phoned them at the start of August to tell them I was without a valid certificate and was this going to be a problem to which their reply was no. I emailed them last week asking if they would issue me with a temp cert as I am down to a couple of rounds of ammo and received a reply to tell me it is not in their interest to issue them as they take up as much time to issue as a proper one and i wouldn't be able to buy ammo on it anyway, they are dealing with Certs that expired in June and I will have to wait, looks like i'll be getting mine lost in the Christmas post and not a lot of stalking and lamping inbetween unless I can get close enough to one to batter it to death with the stock!!
The thing that p***es me off the most is I put in for a variation in March and asked if I could do my renewal early to save all the hassle of doing it again a few months later and was told NO!
Rant over, Merry Christmas!

 

[Orion]

I phoned them at the start of August to tell them I was without a valid certificate and was this going to be a problem to which their reply was no.

Of course it's not a problem...................... to them! You however are currently in unlawful possession of firearms and could be prosecuted for it, so why not email/write to them again insisting that they issue a permit immediately? It will either result in your FAC appearing as if a miracle has happened or you will then be in a position to make a complaint. If you do nothing you are on offer.

I emailed them last week asking if they would issue me with a temp cert as I am down to a couple of rounds of ammo and received a reply to tell me it is not in their interest to issue them as they take up as much time to issue as a proper one

That's correct, it's not in their interest to issue them but it's because it would show that they cannot meet their performance targets and renew certs within a reasonable time frame. If you have the reply from them to that effect in writing then personally I'd go for them all guns blazing with an immediate letter to the CC.

I cannot over-emphasise the fact that it is you that is now in a serious breach of the law with regard to unlawful possession of firearms. Do you think the FEO or FLO will back you up if it all comes on top? And it doesn't have to be a firearms related matter that can get the investigative ball rolling.

 

[CRUMPY]

Orion you are of course right, I'm afraid I have not acted promptly enough and I thank you for the kick up the arse, I will get a reply back to them now, I have the email chain and will keep it going, like others the fear of rocking the boat is the worry but far outweighed by the loss of a certificate held for over 25 years!
Atb
Crumpy

 

[timbrayford]

hampshire are talking 31/3 months for renewal and 6 - 8 weeks for a 1 for 1 variation

I have just had my one for one returned by Hampshire police in 18 days - although I did discuss the 6-8 weeks that they had originally said with both my MP and the Home Office

 

[tony rentokil]

Crumpy,
I had a right game with this police force,I am a trained marksman for rentokil,they lost my cert,lost referees,lost application,then they said I never supplied the ground ref people,even though I know they visited it twice.
It took a civil letter to the head man,2 days latter had my cert,this took nearly 2 years,bless.

I live in Bridgnorth,also. Regards Tony.

 

[matt_hooks]

Tony, they're not the only ones that lose stuff. TVP managed to lose my application form, and then my referee forms. Funnily enough, when the FLO came for the visit he had four referee forms, apparently they "found" them, after they'd made my referees write again (costing me two more lots of recorded delivery). I'd sent everything recorded, signed for, so could prove it had reached them, but that was where the trail went cold.

 

[CRUMPY]

Well an update on my certificates, emailed Staffs voicing my concerns over not receiving my tickets back on Monday and my worries about holding my firearms without a valid certificate, section 7s for rifles and shotguns through the post this morning, can't buy any ammo but legal again, thanks for the kick Orion!!

 

[jay 22]

I think everyone in the force area's which are so slow at moment should write in a letter. Its the only way service should improve