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Fees Rise in Warks and West Mercia


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Fortunately it requires an amendment to the firearms act no police chief or commissioner can change the fees!

 

"The prices have not gone up since 2001 and we're currently only recovering approximately a quarter of the costs of processing shotgun and firearms licences and that doesn't seem correct to me."

 

Shouldn't be so inefficient then........ Liscencing benefits the public by controlling firearms it is t a tax........ Or a benefit why shouldn't the cost be Bourne by the general public after all certificated shooters already contribute an extra amount as they are all resident in that region and pay the same rates as everyone else!

Edited by HDAV
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Just noticed the article below on BBC news, if it does rise in these regions (I'm covered by Warks) it will spread across the country in no time.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-27031957

 

D

They can say what they like ,they do not set the fee it is set by government,so they cannot just increase it because they want to.

 

More scaremongering by the police so they can force a rise in the future.

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Plush under used building in Leatherhead they could flog, if they need some cash, Oh, sorry forgot about the 20 -30 million in the number two slush fund.

 

They can say what they like ,they do not set the fee it is set by government,so they cannot just increase it because they want to.

 

More scaremongering by the police so they can force a rise in the future.

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I suspect that the fee for your licence will remain the same and they will introduce some kind of processing fee! A bit like the fees for fast tracking your passport renewal I'd guess?

 

It's not that they want to increase it ( as stated it's not exactly bankrupting) it's that we are already paying them to perform this service!

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At the end of the day if they raise the price then we have to pay it...hardly something I will be worrying over

 

Are you serious? I sincerely hope not. If I've missed the intended sarcasm in your post then apologise. If I haven't - then you should be ashamed. You're obviously lucky enough to be in the position not to have to worry about the odd £150. With "friends" like you the shooting community, we really don't need any enemies at all.

 

I hope BASC and the other organisations jump all over this ridiculous posturing by Warwickshire PCC Ron Ball.

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At the end of the day if they raise the price then we have to pay it :yes: it would work out at £40 per year,or £3.33 per month, hardly something I will be worrying over :no: How much would a fishing licence cost per year? :whistling: BB

Your very fortunate not to have to worry about money. To me £200 represents 2 weeks of my state pension, or should shooting, once again, become a sport for only the rich.

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Are you serious? I sincerely hope not. If I've missed the intended sarcasm in your post then apologise. If I haven't - then you should be ashamed. You're obviously lucky enough to be in the position not to have to worry about the odd £150. With "friends" like you the shooting community, we really don't need any enemies at all.

 

I hope BASC and the other organisations jump all over this ridiculous posturing by Warwickshire PCC Ron Ball.

:lol::lol: yes i'm serious :good::lol::lol: BB

Edited by Bluebarrels
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I've just got off the phone with Simon Clarke at BASC - they're well aware of this particular story and have already given interviews to the local press in rebuttal of Ron Ball's sabre rattling. Simon said that BASC would probably post an update in this thread at some point today.

 

yes i'm serious :good: BB

 

Wouldn't you feel more comfortable on the GCN forum? I'm sure you'd find many more like minded people on there. Last I heard there were four...

Edited by A.J.P.
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madness a non job ,out of touch old **** who wants more money from hard working peeps who are taxed to the nines.have a look at the police part of your council tax ,never mind your income tax were already double taxed for our invisible police b4 you pay your licence fee.when u have your car broken into/motorbike stolen and all you get is a crime number youl realise value for money they are not.yes i have insurence but maybe if more bobbies were on the beat instead of filling in endless forms for pointless wastes of salary like this i wouldnt have had to claim to have a new window in my car and get half the value of my bike back.i know how to save money sack ,him ,his deputy their p,a staff and sell their offices and equipment to pay for more beat coppers

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I've just got off the phone with Simon Clarke at BASC - they're well aware of this particular story and have already given interviews to the local press in rebuttal of Ron Ball's sabre rattling. Simon said that BASC would probably post an update in this thread at some point today.

 

 

Wouldn't you feel more comfortable on the GCN forum? I'm sure you'd find many more like minded people on there. Last I heard there were four...

:lol: whatever, oh superior one :lol:

Edited by Bluebarrels
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The Police and Crime Commissioner in Warwickshire has no power to change fees. He seems to be talking from an out-of-date briefing. The police suggested a rise of something like this magnitude over a year ago.

 

That was stopped before it went through and we now have a working group examining the issue, working through the home office and bringing in BASC and others plus the Association of Chief Police Officers.

 

The bottom line is that fees have not gone up since 2001 and some sort of increase is due, if only to account for inflation.

 

The various arguments that the police need £200 to cover costs and taxpayers are "subsidising" the process have been rejected.

 

BASC has insisted that any increase should be a fair price for a fair service - with the police making improvements in service delivery and efficiency. We have also insisted that the police should be clear and transparent about their real costs.

 

BBC Midlands is covering the story today based only on the PCC's comments. Mike Eveleigh from the BASC firearms team was on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire this morning. You can listen to it here, the item starts at 01:06:54 from the start of the programme.

 

Victoria from the Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club (women's shooting and networking club, with cake) was live on BBC Midlands TV at lunchtime and should be on Midlands today (West Mids) tonight if the story still runs.

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:lol: whatever oh superior one :lol: BB

 

You can leave the name-calling out mate. You're the one who's seemingly happy to degrade the little security which we have left as a community. The issue of fees is just part of the larger picture of how we as shooters are treated by government, and perceived by the general public. The whole issue of a potential fee increase has painted shooters in a very negative light in the press and is a wholly unjust means by which the police are trying to ease some of the strain that budget cuts have imposed on them. Shooters are seen as an easy target - and if we don't stand together than we are undeniably weaker than if we worked together to protect the shooting sports as a whole.

 

And if stirring-the-pot means that I stand up in defence of shooting, I'll happily stir all day. Anyway - you've made your position perfectly clear, as have I. Lets leave it at that.

Edited by A.J.P.
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Here's a press release on the issue from September last year:

 

A decision by the Home Office to postpone an increase in firearms certificate fees to allow further work on costs and the role of medical advice in the licensing process has been welcomed by the UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).

The cost of a shotgun or firearms certificate, currently £50 for a five-year certificate, has not risen since 2001. Police forces have been lobbying for a significant fees increase. A working group will be set up to examine police costs for administering the service and to investigate how GPs can be more involved in the licensing process without adding unduly to their responsibilities or penalising applicants.

BASC chief executive Richard Ali said: “We welcome the constructive approach which the Home Office and Government have taken towards this complex issue. They have listened to the concerns of law-abiding gun owners and set out a realistic way forward. The real costs of police administration can now be examined, inefficiencies tackled and improvements made.

“BASC recognises that an increase in firearms licensing fees is due, but we believe any rise should be linked to better police efficiency and effectiveness in delivering the licensing service. Firearms licensing must do two things: protect public safety and ensure the continued lawful ownership and use of firearms. Shooting helps to protect crops and our food supply and brings acknowledged benefits to conservation and biodiversity. BASC believes lawful gun owners should pay a fair price for a fair service, but we know that the standard of service varies dramatically across different police forces.”

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The Police and Crime Commissioner in Warwickshire has no power to change fees. He seems to be talking from an out-of-date briefing. The police suggested a rise of something like this magnitude over a year ago.

 

That was stopped before it went through and we now have a working group examining the issue, working through the home office and bringing in BASC and others plus the Association of Chief Police Officers.

 

The bottom line is that fees have not gone up since 2001 and some sort of increase is due, if only to account for inflation.

 

The various arguments that the police need £200 to cover costs and taxpayers are "subsidising" the process have been rejected.

 

BASC has insisted that any increase should be a fair price for a fair service - with the police making improvements in service delivery and efficiency. We have also insisted that the police should be clear and transparent about their real costs.

 

BBC Midlands is covering the story today based only on the PCC's comments. Mike Eveleigh from the BASC firearms team was on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire this morning. You can listen to it here, the item starts at 01:06:54 from the start of the programme.

 

Victoria from the Shotgun and Chelsea Bun Club (women's shooting and networking club, with cake) was live on BBC Midlands TV at lunchtime and should be on Midlands today (West Mids) tonight if the story still runs.

 

The story was on regional TV this morning

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You can leave the name-calling out mate. You're the one who's seemingly happy to degrade the little security which we have left as a community. The issue of fees is just part of the larger picture of how we as shooters are treated by government, and perceived by the general public. The whole issue of a potential fee increase has painted shooters in a very negative light in the press and is a wholly unjust means by which the police are trying to ease some of the strain that budget cuts have imposed on them. Shooters are seen as an easy target - and if we don't stand together than we are undeniably weaker than if we worked together to protect the shooting sports as a whole.

Heck your a ray of sunshine,he hardly delved deep into the big bag of nasty things to call someone bag.

He is entitled to an opinion,you may disagree,but to come over all we must stick together or die in your first few posts is a tad overkill.

 

And like it or not he was right, if the price rises you have two choices pay or don't,he was just stating the obvious.

 

I for one would like them to stay as low as possible, but it is inevitable there will be some sort of increase, but that should come with improvements in the system.

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I for one would like them to stay as low as possible, but it is inevitable there will be some sort of increase, but that should come with improvements in the system.

 

I couldn't agree more - and as Simon has said, this is effectively what BASC are pushing for as part of the working group. As for coming on strong, it's these sort of issues that will damage us all in the long run if we sit back and take a passive role. I would suggest that my post count is irrelevant in this instance - my views would be the same if I where to have 1200 instead of 12.

Edited by A.J.P.
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I couldn't agree more - and as Simon has said, this is effectively what BASC are pushing for as part of the working group. As for coming on strong, it's these sort of issues that will damage us all in the long run if we sit back and take a passive role. There are going to be people who are happy to take a back seat and those who aren't. I would suggest that my post count is irrelevant in this instance. I feel very strongly about the issue.

And that's fair enough :good: all I was saying if the price rises we will have to pay and that's the bottom line (no one want's to pay more than they have to) :good: BB

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And that's fair enough :good: all I was saying if the price rises we will have to pay and that's the bottom line (no one want's to pay more than they have to) :good: BB

 

I'm sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way BB. My feeling on the matter is that although change is innevitable, we have to fight to make the very best of a bad situation. With BASC's and the other shooting organisation's assistance, I hope that we can come out of this with a much better licensing system in place. It's such a postcode lottery at the moment, I feel very sorry for some people when their horror stories pop up on the forums.

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I'm sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way BB. My feeling on the matter is that although change is innevitable, we have to fight to make the very best of a bad situation. With BASC's and the other shooting organisation's assistance, I hope that we can come out of this with a much better licensing system in place. It's such a postcode lottery at the moment, I feel very sorry for some people when their horror stories pop up on the forums.

Okay mate no problems :good: BB

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