FAC Interview

[Davyo]

Had my visit & inspection for FAC finaly.Very few questions on guns, safty ect, swift look at the cabinet (no pull test like when i applied for SG, when they opend the door and tried to pull it from the wall), a handfull of questions re permissions.The main questions where focused on marrage relationship,my 2 kids details including dates of birth.And in p erticular my relationship with the neighbours either side.He also stated that he would approach the neighbours and ask if any concernes.Seems after the recent events in Horden Couny Durham (Atherton shootings)this is the direction Durham Constabulary are taking.Dont have any issues with this but what would be the case if someones neighbour is a tree hugger??

[BRAD1927]

start knocking doors if I were you bearing gifts lol

[Kes]

It isnt a reason to refuse but if my neighbours suggested I wasnt a fit person they would immediately get a letter from a solicitor claiming defamation of character. Durham should have listened to his mother but, as usual we shooters also become a target in such tragic incidents.

[Graham M]

Had my visit & inspection for FAC finaly.Very few questions on guns, safty ect, swift look at the cabinet (no pull test like when i applied for SG, when they opend the door and tried to pull it from the wall), a handfull of questions re permissions.The main questions where focused on marrage relationship,my 2 kids details including dates of birth.And in p erticular my relationship with the neighbours either side.He also stated that he would approach the neighbours and ask if any concernes.Seems after the recent events in Horden Couny Durham (Atherton shootings)this is the direction Durham Constabulary are taking.Dont have any issues with this but what would be the case if someones neighbour is a tree hugger??

You should have pointed out straight away that for security reasons you don't want the neighbours to know that you have guns in the house.

One of the questions asked a long time ago by my FEO was whether any of the locals knew about my guns. I never tell anyone, (although my friends in the street must know) because of security.

A couple of years ago one of the neighbours asked me if I had a Real gun in my gunbag that I was carrying to the car. I told him that it was only an air rifle and that I was going to a club to shoot. He relied Oh I thought it wouldn't be a real one.

I left it at that.

 

Your FLD must be full of *******' eejits.

G.M.

Edited May 24, 2012 by Graham M

[bedwards1966]

Well asking about relationships is sensible enough, I can understand why they might want to speak to neighbours too. It might be possible to get out of it by saying that you don't want the neighbours to know about you holding guns, whether it would make any difference or not would probably depend on the FEO and the circumstances.

 

As to what would happen if the neighbour was a tree-hugger, one can only hope that it's fairly obvious and that what they say will be seen as the usual anti-shooting garbage and that the FEO won't take any notice, but it certainly could lead to problems. Even if the person isn't a true tree-hugger, there are plenty of anti-shooting people out there in one form or another.

[Breastman]

You should have pointed out straight away that for security reasons you don't want the neighbours to know that you have guns in the house.

One of the questions asked a long time ago by my FEO was whether any of the locals knew about my guns. I never tell anyone, (although my friends in the street must know) because of security.

A couple of years ago one of the neighbours asked me if I had a “Real gun” in my gunbag that I was carrying to the car. I told him that it was only an air rifle and that I was going to a club to shoot. He relied “Oh I thought it wouldn't be a real one”.

I left it at that.

 

Your FLD must be full of *******' eejits.

G.M.

 

+1 I would NOT be happy with this. I live in a cul-de-sac and all of us have fallen out (apart from myself and 1 other neighbour) because of parking issues and a family on the corner which has a litter of feral brats which like to damage cars and hit women and old people with sticks as they walk by. They would love the opportunity to stick the knife into me so i'd be asking Mr FEO precisely where the guidance he was using to take such action had come from. A copy of the report from the HACS committee specifically saying this type of 'planning application' style consultation was not a good idea would be the next stage if he said anything other than "sorry i was just testing you"

[Bloke]

sorry for ignorance, what is the HACS Comittee?

[Breastman]

sorry for ignorance, what is the HACS Comittee?

The committee that did the investigation into the Cumbrian shootings. Interviewing/canvassing neighbours and partners/spouses was a suggestion made to the committtee and in its report it was, rightly imho, dismissed as a bad idea

[Bloke]

The committee that did the investigation into the Cumbrian shootings. Interviewing/canvassing neighbours and partners/spouses was a suggestion made to the committtee and in its report it was, rightly imho, dismissed as a bad idea

Cheers for that - I googled it and got housing associations? Will look that up later...

[JonathanL]

Had my visit & inspection for FAC finaly.Very few questions on guns, safty ect, swift look at the cabinet (no pull test like when i applied for SG, when they opend the door and tried to pull it from the wall), a handfull of questions re permissions.The main questions where focused on marrage relationship,my 2 kids details including dates of birth.And in p erticular my relationship with the neighbours either side.He also stated that he would approach the neighbours and ask if any concernes.Seems after the recent events in Horden Couny Durham (Atherton shootings)this is the direction Durham Constabulary are taking.Dont have any issues with this but what would be the case if someones neighbour is a tree hugger??

 

Sorry but I have big problems with that fr the same reason I objected to a school being consulted about a childs application. It is simply no one elses business other than the applicants. If you want to tell your neighbours about your private matters then fair enough but it has got nothing to do with your neighbours.

 

On the basic security front it would seem stupid beyond belief - I mean, you may live next door to the local drug dealer for all you (or the police) know.

 

J.

[JonathanL]

Well asking about relationships is sensible enough, I can understand why they might want to speak to neighbours too. It might be possible to get out of it by saying that you don't want the neighbours to know about you holding guns, whether it would make any difference or not would probably depend on the FEO and the circumstances.

 

As to what would happen if the neighbour was a tree-hugger, one can only hope that it's fairly obvious and that what they say will be seen as the usual anti-shooting garbage and that the FEO won't take any notice, but it certainly could lead to problems. Even if the person isn't a true tree-hugger, there are plenty of anti-shooting people out there in one form or another.

 

I would have thought that the matter would be covered by data protection law. Surely the police can't give out any of your information without your consent?

 

J.

[bedwards1966]

I would have thought that the matter would be covered by data protection law. Surely the police can't give out any of your information without your consent?

 

J.

 

Yes, you might be right, I hadn't thought of that. I don't know where the limits would be, but saying something like 'Mr. X is applying for a shotgun/firearm certificate, how do you get on with this person, have you had any arguments etc?' probably would be beyond what's allowed.

 

I can see some people might be concerned with telling the FEO that they are not to speak to the neighbours, for fear of the FEO thinking they are trying to hide something - after all, if you had some bad neighbour disputes it would be a great way to cover it up by saying you were concerned about security, data protection etc. I can see that FEO's can often get what they want as people just don't want to refuse them in any way.

 

As I said, I can understand why the police want to do it, but considering how well placed neighbours are for theft if they are the wrong type of people, and even how nasty they can be over silly little things, it is leading to problems if they are contacted about applications.

[Thunderbird]

It seems utterly ludicrous so is it simply another anecdotal example we see on PW regularly of FEOs 'taking the law into their own hands?'

[Amazed]

Hi all I very much dought that the feo would ask if you were ok to be trusted with a gun.

More along the lines "hello I am from the police doing routine enquiries about next door what are you views on them as a household ? "

After all is the best place to get any info as anyone would know if they have any curtain twitchers living near by they know everything lol.

I supose areas and post codes will have flags on the computer about different events and crimes, if yours comes up with anti social behaviour etc they will want to dig a little deeper. I think it's nothing more than routeen and covering there backs.

I did think prior to my fac application that the police would be harsh and unrelenting in finding some excuse not to grant my application, but it's not the case they are helpfull and understanding even if the admin side needs a turbo or something. And I feel that they have done there job in my case very well.

[Livefast123]

I would not be happy with that at all and the implications for security are fairly substantial. Your neighbours are in the best position to know your movements etc and why would you want them knowing you have guns, thats the last thing you want used against you if you were unfortunate enough to have a dispute.

 

I would call them now and say you are not happy with it before it is too late.

[JonathanL]

Hi all I very much dought that the feo would ask if you were ok to be trusted with a gun.

More along the lines "hello I am from the police doing routine enquiries about next door what are you views on them as a household ? "

 

There is nbo such thing as a routine enquiry. Since when do the police 'routeinly enquire' about people of their neighbours? They never do as we haven't quite yet got to the situation of the state randomly questioning people about other people on the off-chance they might uncover some criminal behavior.

 

The only time police enquire about people is if they are investigating a crime. So, the neighbours are going to think that the people next door are criminals.

I think it's nothing more than routeen and covering there backs.

 

So it's fine for the cops to behave however they like because they need to cover their backs? The police are there to do a job, not look out for them selves at all costs.

 

J.

[HDAV]

I would write to FLD and copy BASC pointing out the security concerns you have and the out come of the Home Affairs Select Commitee debate into firearms liscencing.....

[Amazed]

 

So it's fine for the cops to behave however they like because they need to cover their backs? The police are there to do a job, not look out for them selves at all costs.

 

J.

 

Never stopped them before.

 

I couldn't care less who he asks if I am a trust worthy person. I have nothing to hide.

 

You know when your applying they will be getting into your life and will do it in the way they see fit under there guidlines, you can except it or don't apply.

 

I am happy with the prosess as a whole it has been a while getting it printed up tho but that's down to the climate I am afrraid. The people I have spoken to have been helpfull understanding and nice. And as long as I stay the right side of the fence or law if you like they will stay like that.

Karl.

Edited May 26, 2012 by Amazed

[Greymaster]

Never stopped them before.

 

I couldn't care less who he asks if I am a trust worthy person. I have nothing to hide.

 

You know when your applying they will be getting into your life and will do it in the way they see fit under there guidlines, you can except it or don't apply.

 

I am happy with the prosess as a whole it has been a while getting it printed up tho but that's down to the climate I am afrraid. The people I have spoken to have been helpfull understanding and nice. And as long as I stay the right side of the fence or law if you like they will stay like that.

Karl.

 

You may be a trustworthy person, but the person who is asking and/or the person being asked may not be, and you may not get an honest appraisal, but the onus would then be on you to correct matters, just because you couldn't care less.

 

Fortunately individual rights will be safeguarded by those who do care more.

[Breastman]

You may be a trustworthy person, but the person who is asking and/or the person being asked may not be, and you may not get an honest appraisal, but the onus would then be on you to correct matters, just because you couldn't care less.

 

Fortunately individual rights will be safeguarded by those who do care more.

 

 

The old saying, "If you've done nothing wrong, then you've got nothing to hide" could be the strap line of any fascist / communist or otherwise unpleasant regime 'that knows best' Its contrary to the principle of innocent until proven guilty and, as said above, relies on the person doing the questioning to be honest, trustworthy and acting in everyones best interest, not just yours, not just the 'regime' or and not his/her paymaster. Alarm bells should ring anytime someone uses it who isn't just being blase about it.

[sitsinhedges]

Tired of this empire building nonsense

 

It's not that many years ago that farmers kept their shot guns in the back porch so they were to hand when needed and there was no paperwork or notification on transfer. Guns were pretty much freely available.

 

Strangely the country wasn't full of people being shot because they didn't get on with their neighbours.

 

I really can't see how this endless ratchet does anything for firearms safety apart from making completely responsible people just not bother applying in the first place because they can't be bothered with the constant threat of hassle from armed police or revocation from hysterical jobsworth FEO's over trivial events that have nothing to do with guns.

[CharlieT]

Tired of this empire building nonsense

 

It's not that many years ago that farmers kept their shot guns in the back porch so they were to hand when needed and there was no paperwork or notification on transfer. Guns were pretty much freely available.

 

Strangely the country wasn't full of people being shot because they didn't get on with their neighbours.

 

I really can't see how this endless ratchet does anything for firearms safety apart from making completely responsible people just not bother applying in the first place because they can't be bothered with the constant threat of hassle from armed police or revocation from hysterical jobsworth FEO's over trivial events that have nothing to do with guns.

 

Exactly my sentiments.

I've seen this nonsense go from a license bought in the Post Office, if you could be bothered, to licenses issued by the police (with no record of shotguns held) through to the introduction of gun cabinets, mountains of paperwork and today's hysteria.

 

Has all this brought an end to gun crime, not on your Nelly.

[JonathanL]

Never stopped them before.

 

I couldn't care less who he asks if I am a trust worthy person. I have nothing to hide.

 

You know when your applying they will be getting into your life and will do it in the way they see fit under there guidlines, you can except it or don't apply.

 

Do you really mean that - honestly? The police (and presumably any other stste body) can happily go about telling all and sundry details of your private life and ask them whatever questions about you they like?

 

You have nothing to hide. Presumably then you are happy for the state to put cameras in every room of your house - you have nothing to hide, after all.

 

Perhaps you really do feel that way but I, along with most other people certainly don't. The state does not have the right to pry into my life whenever it feels like it in relation to things that have nothing to do with anyone else. Just because you have applied for a FAC/SGC does not mean that you are signing away any and all of your rights to your personal privacy. I get to choose who I tell things about my life to, not the police, or any other state body or official. If Parliament wants to give the police the power to invade my privacy then that is a matter for them to decide after having properly debated it.

 

J.

[grasshopper]

Durham are now actualy sending out "Murder squad" detectives to conduct interviews,as they can,in their own words..read body language.

 

Member off this forum had a visit only last week from 1

 

Only 6 months ago,they were issuing licences within 2 weeks(i know of 2 people who got them) to this..my mate has waited an extra 7weeks since his licence expired and they simply told him,guns are ok in your cabinet,just don't use them :blink: they are a joke!!

[HDAV]

Durham are now actualy sending out "Murder squad" detectives to conduct interviews,as they can,in their own words..read body language.

 

Member off this forum had a visit only last week from 1

 

Only 6 months ago,they were issuing licences within 2 weeks(i know of 2 people who got them) to this..my mate has waited an extra 7weeks since his licence expired and they simply told him,guns are ok in your cabinet,just don't use them :blink: they are a joke!!

It's all getting a bit scifi.......