West Mercia variation tunaround

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On monday morning I'll be phoning to leave a polite message asking for a sect 7 permit to cover my other shotguns and rifles and all my rifle ammunition. Delays due to workload is one thing but there is no reason to leave someone in breach of the law - even if in their view its not a problem because I applied for renewal in time.
 
I would suggest that you do it in writing or ideally via email. You'll have no record of anything requested or answers received if you rely on the 'phone.
 
Final update - got my ticket back after five months start to finish, all in order and I cannot fault my FEO I think that West Mercia would fall apart without guys like him.

My renewal is due the middle of next year, which is something that I'm not looking forward to! I will be submitting it as soon as I get my paperwork off them and requesting a temporary certificate from the outset should my certificate expire whilst its with them to ensure I keep legal.

Rich
 
Just got mine back today ,, I had a good moan on the phone to them yesterday and it was in the post box today , i did send it in may though and the feo came round 9 weeks ago. The chap on the phone said they were about 2000 licences behind at the moment . So good luck to anyone who is still waiting.
 
I suggest anybody concerned about this matter gets this weeks shooting times big bit in there about licensing and next week will open your eyes they asked 51 forces under the freedom of information act about renewals etc and I think only 10 ish replied the rest did not bother witch in its self is an illegal act here is a photo of the forces that did reply its gonna scar you for life so viewing discretion is advised

f2e81b5d.jpg
 
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Just to update my earlier post regarding Hampshire Police, when I involved my M.P. & the Home Office my variation was turned round in 18 days. Since then I have applied for another variation - on December 7th. This time I did not involve either my M.P. or the Home Office and I am still waiting!:evil:
 
what a disgrace those figures are for west mercia. i can understand a bit of delay due to the force area size. but to be fair they should have more staff if the numbers are bigger.

mine is to be renewed in june i hope it improves by then .... a bit ....
 
jay 22 said:
what a disgrace those figures are for west mercia. i can understand a bit of delay due to the force area size. but to be fair they should have more staff if the numbers are bigger.

mine is to be renewed in june i hope it improves by then .... a bit ....
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I'd get it in now lol
 
there is no point mate. i have seen there office if you send it in early it just sits in a tray along with others that are due for renewal.

i will be asking them for a temp ticket till its done. what really bugs me though. is say its 8 months wait. you get your ticket back but it isnt 5 years. its from the date it runs out
how is this fair :doh:
 
jay 22 said:
there is no point mate. i have seen there office if you send it in early it just sits in a tray along with others that are due for renewal.

i will be asking them for a temp ticket till its done. what really bugs me though. is say its 8 months wait. you get your ticket back but it isnt 5 years. its from the date it runs out
how is this fair :doh:
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It really is shocking mate, how come west Mercia is so far behind is it just the size of the area and lack of staff or is there some other reason?
 
MONGOOSE said:
It really is shocking mate, how come west Mercia is so far behind is it just the size of the area and lack of staff or is there some other reason?
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my flo said to me that its the second biggest area in the country they cover. he alone does 4,000 and odd people. they use to be quick. but with cuts and staff off they have never replaced them.

also at one point they where not passing land for max calibres. so a shooter who say had land past for the rifle he wanted 243 lets say. months down there line needed a 308 and they would have to go back out to check land again.

the conditions they put on ticket doesnt help. they should to the any legal quarry on the ticket. wouldn't have to keep getting tickets back to add different conditions.


when there behind instead of getting temps in they let it build up then there is massive back log. don't get me wrong some of the staff and feo officers are great. its the system they have to work to that is letting them down.



some people say dont moan about it. but if your paying the same fees as the guy in devon. and his is back in matter of weeks. why should you wait 6 months. and if the big increase go's ahead why should some get worse service to others
 
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jay 22 said:
my flo said to me that its the second biggest area in the country they cover. he alone does 4,000 and odd people. they use to be quick. but with cuts and staff off they have never replaced them.

also at one point they where not passing land for max calibres. so a shooter who say had land past for the rifle he wanted 243 lets say. months down there line needed a 308 and they would have to go back out to check land again.

the conditions they put on ticket doesnt help. they should to the any legal quarry on the ticket. wouldn't have to keep getting tickets back to add different conditions.


when there behind instead of getting temps in they let it build up then there is massive back log. don't get me wrong some of the staff and feo officers are great. its the system they have to work to that is letting them down.



some people say dont moan about it. but if your paying the same fees as the guy in devon. and his is back in matter of weeks. why should you wait 6 months. and if the big increase go's ahead why should some get worse service to others
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That's not good is it mate, do you no what force has the biggest area? And how there figures compare to west Mercia?
 
jay 22 said:
i think devon and cornwall have the biggest number of ticket holders.
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And they also have a very efficient FLD, and it really doesn't need a PhD to figure out why they generally don't have problems and have an acceptable turnaround time.

Once an FAC is 'open' they will enter just one condition covering all the firearms on the certificate and often mentioning just one 'major' quarry species e.g. 'deer' and AOLQ.

I guess they believe that experienced FAC holders can be trusted to make decisions about which firearm is either suitable or legal to use on whatever quarry they are targeting.

MPs and Government really need to focus on the inefficiencies, wastage and cost implications in those force FLDs that are continually trying to micro-manage shooters with no discernable benefit to anyone.
 
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I will say this again;

There are big changes going on at West Mercia FLD, and the methods used for applying conditions, the wording of conditions and the use of laptop computers and a paperless office system are making a big impact on the waiting times.

There is more to come or so I am told, and I have no reason to disbelieve it.

Simon
 
Wouldn't have anything to do with your involvment of certain 'interested' parties a while back would it Simon? :D
 
Orion said:
Wouldn't have anything to do with your involvment of certain 'interested' parties a while back would it Simon? :D
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Orion, I don't know if the questions I asked of the Chief Constables Staff Officer, The Head of the Police Liason Committee, my MP (Harriet Baldwin) and the Minister responsible for overseeing ACPO, James Brokenshire MP, had anything to do with it. Probably not, as things were so fecked up it was untrue!

But the former Head of the Licensing Department has retired early, stress (so I am told), the management consultants that had formerly been brought in at great expense have been shown the door, and the FEO's were eventually asked what would make things work more efficiently. Thankfully the Superintendant now in charge listened to them and, "things, they are a changing!"

Simon
 
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