oisin og Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Mate got a phone call yesterday from his local FEO. He stated that a complaint had been received that morning that he, the mate, had been shooting, that morning, on land for which he had no permission. The Officer directed that his guns be brought to the police station that day and made it clear that if the mate was not prepared to bring them, then a car would be sent out to collect them. The mate brought the guns to the cop shop within the hour and met the FEO. The Officer emphatically refused to identify the person who had made the complaint and would only indicate in the most general way the vicinity in which the alleged shooting took place. There are a number of land owners in this area and it is not possible to identify the land owner concerned. The mate adamantly denied that he had been shooting in the area identified but, notwithstanding this, all his guns were taken from him; 1 x 12g o/u, 1 x 12g s/s, 1 x .22 LR and 1 x air rifle. Although he had not been directed to bring with him any ammo he held, he was chided for not having done so and instructed to do so the following day. The FEO would give him no further information and simply stated that the complaint would be investigated. He would give no assurance about the length of time this would take and when it was pointed out to him that there was only three weeks left in the season the Officer was unmoved. He said that the mate could phone him in a weeks time. The mate has had his licence for about twenty five years and nothing like this has ever happened before. Any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiss.tony Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 ring basc soon as Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bry-M Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Exactly what tony said. Speak to the legal experts on this one! It's reading stories like this that make me glad i pay my membership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulpicide Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 A/ He has not been revoked yet, he can borrow a shotgun and finnish the season. B/ He is possiblly facing charges once he had the initial phone call he should have said Absolutly nothing as he WILL be providing info to allow them to build a case against him. C/ Do not speak to them again without a legal representitive. D/ If a member of a shooting org contact them asap If a member of SACS contact the office for advice and to initiate the legal fees insurance and get a specialist lawyer started. E/ Pm me if you need any more advice If a SACS member phone the office right away 01698 885206. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 You have had the best advice already in contact basc or whatever organisation you are a member of. Having seen some unsavoury notorious poachers in this neck of the woods granted firearm licenses and shotgun certificates I am surprised to find out that the accusation of poaching is sufficient for the confiscation of guns and rifles. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 No smoke without fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 No smoke without fire Nice!!! way to go for sticking up for a fellow shooter....Hmmmm hows it go? Innocent till proven guilty....Obviously not in your world!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird Lugton Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 No smoke without fire Based on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmooney Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 No smoke without fire Yes, no one has ever made a false accusation against a sportsman just to be vindictive. Hunt monitors are just there to make sure the horses drink enough water too. You're support is underwhelming.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imissalot Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Fingers crossed for him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntsman Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 There must be something hes not telling you,or the FEO is over zealous something not right I would demand more information, they cant just confiscate your property without valid proof, take legal advice, or if in BASC or SACS let them do it for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Ther is not a chance I would hand over any guns/ammo until I had received legal advice. Provide a map and find out were you was ment to of been 'poaching'. Surely if they are building a case to bring on charges then they have to let you defend yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 He needs to let them investigate, without hassling them, then let them present thier evidence (if they have any).then he needs to counter their claims. Chances are its someone with a grudge, possibly hes not telling the whole story but hey, give the lad a chance....Armed tresspass is a very serious charge!!! :yes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 No smoke without fire Nice to see solidarity is alive and well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Nice to see solidarity is alive and well... YOURE NOT WRONG THERE!!!! :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewj Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 that's bad news if its all porkie pies I hope then caller is charged with wasting police time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 If he is innocent, I sincerely hope that he gets them returned with a full explanation. That said, every now and then instances such as this crop up on various forums. Invariably we have not been told the full tale and more information emerges as the thread progresses, which casts a different light. I trust this is not one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imissalot Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 For them to build a case on your mate ,they would need evidence and if he says he wasn't were they said they need pics to prove surely ,no pic or prove no case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) If an allegation has been made then the police are duty bound to investigate, no point going all anti. If he hadn't have handed over his guns then they would just have seized them as he is now under criminal investigation, better to be co-operative but say nothing to drop yourself in the myre. Best advice has been given, contact his shooting organisation and arrange some legal advice ASAP. They wouldn't need a photograph of him actually on the land although this would be best evidence, if the complainant knows him and has said he was on the land then that is good enough. Would have to go to the CPS though and I wouldn't fancy them running it with a a 50/50 his word against their's situation. As said if thats all there is to it best of luck and I hope that if it's a POB then the caller is charged with wasting police time. Edited January 6, 2012 by Livefast123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey B Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Guilty till proven innocent these days pfft. Hope ya get them back sharpish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chady Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 You say there are several land owners round there. How many of them know you? As who ever has reported you knows your name and address? If they all know you it moot help. Dose any of them have a grudge? I would approach them all make sure you have some one with you a woman idealy to act as a witness that you are not intimating any one and ask them and If you can get them to sign a letter to state you was not on there land. They Might might not. Where were you any alibi? Basically start your own investigation. But be carefull how you do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Ther is not a chance I would hand over any guns/ammo until I had received legal advice. Provide a map and find out were you was ment to of been 'poaching'. Surely if they are building a case to bring on charges then they have to let you defend yourself I think in this case I would agree with you. I would be asking questions and on the phone to BASC before I handed over anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 (edited) Guys, this is second hand hearsay comment, analyse the story before you throw mud in any direction. Threads are seldom what they seem, and on the basis of the opening comments then something smells very odd to me! It will never be resolved here, so hardly worth talking about, professional advice would appear to be required. Edited January 7, 2012 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oisin og Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Firstly, can I thank all those who gave support and/or constructive advice. As regards the other posters, I really have no comment which the site rules would allow me to post. Developments are as follows; The mate saw the FEO two days after he had surrendered his guns. The FEO informed him of the precise location where he had allegedly been unlawfully shooting. The mate reiterated that he had not been shooting there at the time in question nor at any other time. The FEO refused to give him any further information but said that the matter would be investigated. He indicated that he would be in contact with him in a week. A week later the FEO had still not contacted him. The mate phoned the local cop shop every day for the next eight days but could not make contact with the FEO who, he was informed, was on holiday. He was then contacted by the FEO who stated that the matter had now been concluded and he could collect his guns. When he went to collect his guns the FEO refused to give him any information. The mate asked what had changed the situation between the guns being surrendered and the phone call instructing him to get his guns. The FEO said he was not prepared to discuss the matter. The FEO was pressed for further information or an explanation, but none was forthcoming and he was adamant that he would be making no further comment. The mate took his guns and is left with a very, very bad taste in his mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 (edited) The smell hasn't got any better, what did the BASC or his shooting organisation say, or his legal advice, please don't tell me he didn't take any advice where a firearms allegation was made and his guns confiscated, any solicitor would have ripped this stupidity to pieces, actually so would I. Sorry my friend, but this is B******t! Your friend (why is it always my friend? ) is either very stupid, naive or lying about something! Call me what you like, this is nuts! Edited February 4, 2012 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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