Bionic Man Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Hi All, Whilst I have thus far taken my 'original' SGC out with me, it is beginning to look a little tatty despite being kept in a SGC wallet. I have been told by friends that a photocopy of my shotgun certificate is acceptable and adequate if a Police officer were to request that I verify that I am a certificate holder. Does anybody know if there is any truth behind this statement? I appreciate that I cannot purchase cartridges etc without producing the original. Apologies if the answer to this query has been posted in the past, but I haven't been able to find the correct answer. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 No you don't need to have it with you, neither do you need to carry a photocopy. However, if you do get stopped it would probably save time and hassle to have one or the other with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 When i was recently stopped the two officers were happy with a photocopy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bionic Man Posted June 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Many thanks for the advice, I shall warm up the photocopier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 (edited) I just carry a photo copy, as orig one is already tatty, copied both parts as at least they can see the guns are listed. Though no doubt they would double check to make sure that the guns were legit. The exception is of course when buying cartridges / guns. Edited June 11, 2012 by BerettaSV10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Funker Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 How has it ended up tatty if you don't mind me asking? I've had mine nearly 5 years and it's fine, it lives in a wallet in the gun slip. Only gets taken out when i buy carts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Don't reallly know how mine become tatty as its been in a wallet since day one. Only coming out when buying, selling guns and buying cartridges, where its creased its getting a bit thread bare and looks like its falling apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 I don't bother to carry mine. I've only seen the police a couple of times whilst out - one didn't ask for it at all and the others got on the radio even after my mate had shown his to verify it. So what's the point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 As others have said, there is not legal requirement to carry your cert with you when you have a gun with you. In theory, a police officer can seize the gun if you don't have a cert but I doubt that would happen. All FAC/SGC holders are flagged on the police computer so as long as you have some form of ID proving who you are then I doubt they would take the gun off you. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fo5ter Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Your legitimacy is held on the PNC. If you get stopped, chances are you're going to get checked out. Your 'FC' page on PNC shows all of your current and past SG and FAC certificates, numbers, reason for refusal/cancellation etc, so all you need to do is tell them who you are. That said, there is no reason not to carry a photocopy of your license and permission letter - makes everybody's life easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Mine only ever leaves the house to buy cartridges. Doesn't get lost that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 I have a photo of mine on my phone, it shows all that is needed to do a check up. Mind you i have never been stopped and asked for it so i am only guessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 I feel that it's best to carry it. Yes they can radio in and confirm that you have one, but if you are unlucky enough to get one of these useless police that insist on taking the guns, you will then have them taken away, knocked about and put into a damp storage room at the police station, they won't be cleaned and by the time you've got there with your certificate the gun probably won't be worth picking up. It's unlikely, but carrying a certificate removes the risk. A photocopy could help, though I understand that some of them don't photocopy well (they come out with FRAUD on them or something like that). Personally I think it's best to keep the certificate in the gun slip that way it's always available, but doesn't get damaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 I feel that it's best to carry it. Yes they can radio in and confirm that you have one, but if you are unlucky enough to get one of these useless police that insist on taking the guns, you will then have them taken away, knocked about and put into a damp storage room at the police station, they won't be cleaned and by the time you've got there with your certificate the gun probably won't be worth picking up. It's unlikely, but carrying a certificate removes the risk. A photocopy could help, though I understand that some of them don't photocopy well (they come out with FRAUD on them or something like that). Personally I think it's best to keep the certificate in the gun slip that way it's always available, but doesn't get damaged. Yes mine does, Leicestershire issued, but my FAC doesn't, I can only imagine that its a cost saving exercise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 been pulled a few times while out shooting. Just confirmed who i was on the PNC and car and off i go. Cant see them taking the guns off you really and not heard it of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Got a photo of both on my phone, just in case I forget mine, going to print a couple of photocopies instead of taking the originals out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 (edited) I have a photo of mine on my phone, it shows all that is needed to do a check up. Mind you i have never been stopped and asked for it so i am only guessing. Now that's a good idea. You could even keep it in a protected folder if your phone will do that. Edited June 11, 2012 by Thunderbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parapilot Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 but if you are unlucky enough to get one of these useless police that insist on taking the guns, you will then have them taken away, knocked about and put into a damp storage room at the police station, they won't be cleaned and by the time you've got there with your certificate Surly they can't just cant take your gun of you. I would have thought they would need to call a firearms unit to do this and handle the guns. I would not be happy handing a gun and ammo over to a 20 year old gung ho copper thats never touched a gun in his life. What if it goes off and he shoots himself in the foot, or something goes wrong. whos fault would that be! (not that you would hand it over loaded) If you have a certificate, as indicated on PNC then that should be the end of it, and even if you get a bad copper, least the firearms guys seam more switched on, so when they arrive they should sort it all out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Surly they can't just cant take your gun of you. I would have thought they would need to call a firearms unit to do this and handle the guns. I would not be happy handing a gun and ammo over to a 20 year old gung ho copper thats never touched a gun in his life. What if it goes off and he shoots himself in the foot, or something goes wrong. whos fault would that be! (not that you would hand it over loaded) If you have a certificate, as indicated on PNC then that should be the end of it, and even if you get a bad copper, least the firearms guys seam more switched on, so when they arrive they should sort it all out. Sec.48(2) gives the officer that power. It may well be a case that police procedures and policies require a firearms trained officer to handle the guns but, legally speaking, there is no problem with it. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Surly they can't just cant take your gun of you. I would have thought they would need to call a firearms unit to do this and handle the guns. I would not be happy handing a gun and ammo over to a 20 year old gung ho copper thats never touched a gun in his life. What if it goes off and he shoots himself in the foot, or something goes wrong. whos fault would that be! (not that you would hand it over loaded) If you have a certificate, as indicated on PNC then that should be the end of it, and even if you get a bad copper, least the firearms guys seam more switched on, so when they arrive they should sort it all out. It seems JonathanL has beaten me to it. A police officer can handle/confiscate firearms as part of his job. They might decide that only their firearms officers can do it, but legally any police officer on duty can. Don't rely on the police firearms officers being more switched on, sadly it's not always the case. I know of one incident where 2 firearms officers didn't know if the guns they were using were rim-fire or centre-fire when called out to shoot 2 'dangerous' dogs! It's unlikely for the police to confiscate your guns if pulled up for any reason, but if you get some young officer who knows nothing about firearms and takes them away, you could end up wishing you'd been able to show your certificate, point out that the serial numbers match and been able to go on your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 (edited) I don't see the point in carrying it with you at all. With the computer records they can look at your details of SGC and FAC, as soon as they pump in your name and address. I am pretty sure it also shows up when they check your vehicle reg. Edited June 11, 2012 by Fisheruk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 I keep mine in the glovebox. That way it's not that far away. Local RFD never wants cert for cartridges anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermincinerator Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 (edited) A police officer can only take your firearms if he believes a crime has or is going to be committed, you have legal right to demand under what circumstances and an explanation of what crimanl activity you have committed to warrant confiscation your guns. A police officer cannot demand you hand over your guns just because he feels like or wants to prove a point. Ian. Edited June 11, 2012 by Vermincinerator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted June 11, 2012 Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 (edited) Surly they can't just cant take your gun of you. I would have thought they would need to call a firearms unit to do this and handle the guns. I would not be happy handing a gun and ammo over to a 20 year old gung ho copper thats never touched a gun in his life. What if it goes off and he shoots himself in the foot, or something goes wrong. whos fault would that be! (not that you would hand it over loaded) [/quote} It may well be a case that police procedures and policies require a firearms trained officer to handle the guns J. I wouldn't trust a police man who's trained on pistols and G36's (Well, in Leicestershire) to be able to make an over and under or side by side safe. To other police man; 'Where's the magazine release?' *flicks off safety* Shooter; 'Oh God Oh God Oh God' Edited June 11, 2012 by cant hit rabbits 123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bionic Man Posted June 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 Thanks for all the advice and tips. I've made scanned copies, which doesn't show the 'FRAUD' watermark, as opposed to the photocopies that do. It's got tatty due to the fact that my son bought me a leather certificate holder which was initially very stiff, and with the cert being taken out a few times to purchase our guns and cartridges, it became a bit tatty looking. Whilst it's a bit scruffy it's not as bad as a passport that I laundered once..... Thanks again chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.