Amazed Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Dear Shaun. Having recently hearing of your campaign towards the position of police commissioner I would like to ask where you stand in relation to private gun ownership and firearms licensing. The licensing department in south Yorkshire has suffered a 20% reduction in its staffing through all of its administration and field officers (FEOs). Would you invest in the administrative positions in policing equally to those more active roles ? I thank you for your time and look forward to your reply. This is the South Yorkshire labour rep mr Shaun wright. Will pop the reply on if I get one. Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dangerous Brian Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Got a reply from our local Conservative candidate for West Mercia. Very quick reply with no additional prompting from me which is a bonus. Thank you for your email and your query about my attitude on the legal ownership of firearms. As a farmer and firearms license-holder myself, I fully appreciate the need for a variety of people to own firearms and I also appreciate that many people enjoy shooting as a recreation/sport. The licensing system needs to be able to deal with the issue, renewal or variation of firearms licences in a timely and efficient manner whilst being mindful of need to ensure that the process meets the high standards that the general public reasonably expect. I am aware that some residents found the Firearms and Explosives Licensing team in West Mercia were not processing requests as quickly as they would have wished but many now say the service has improved greatly in recent times. If elected as the Police & Crime Commissioner for West Mercia on 15th November I would expect to work with BASC, as the representative body, to ensure that any areas of concern are promptly addressed. Should you have any specific questions, please do contact me again but I hope that you will see that I have no desire to implement policies that would further restrict those who lawfully own firearms. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to get in touch. Yours sincerely Adrian Blackshaw Police & Crime Commissioner Candidate for West Mercia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted November 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 I would agree that W mercia have turned a corner and are now much better than before, they were on our stand that the Midland Thanks for the feedback, the more the merrier!! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfoxbuster Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 What about north wales david? I see none of them have replied to basc's letter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted November 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 I know its frustrating, if I were after a job worth about £100k, and the people who could vote me in got in touch, I would make damn sure I got back to them ASAP!! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 (edited) Surrey ;not sure if this has been covered by anyone else, but the Labour Candidate for surrey - Robert Evans is an open league against cruel sports and hunt sabs supporter!! i notice he has not responded to the survey yet - but its fairly clear where he would stand. ps - i know this because he tweeted it on the 5th november (his user name is @robertJEEvans) pps - just spotted he actually is vice president of LACS!!! Edited November 6, 2012 by pegasus bridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Dear Shaun. Having recently hearing of your campaign towards the position of police commissioner I would like to ask where you stand in relation to private gun ownership and firearms licensing. The licensing department in south Yorkshire has suffered a 20% reduction in its staffing through all of its administration and field officers (FEOs). Would you invest in the administrative positions in policing equally to those more active roles ? I thank you for your time and look forward to your reply. This is the South Yorkshire labour rep mr Shaun wright. Will pop the reply on if I get one. Karl Thanks for writing to me. As you may be aware the Government are imposing a 20% cut to police services across the country. This is leading to deep cuts, which are laregely falling on police support staff, who do very valuble jobs. I will work with staff reps to mitigate the cuts whereever possible. Best wishes, Shaun Wright Well I suppose that was a reply but he did circumvent my first question. It would be rude not to ask again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 Whilst I think it's great that everyone is contacting the PCC candidates and asking them questions regarding firearms licensing please don't forget there is more to the elections than firearms. One candidate near me thinks that she is qualified to be the PCC because she is a self employed barrister and " I understand the challenges of running a small business, keeping to a tight budget and dealing with red tape. I will use this commercial experience when setting the policing budget." I'm not sure how that will qualify someone to set £100 million budgets for an organisation employing thousands of employees. Just because a candidate is a shooter it does not make them the best candidate. I'm sure most of you would be aware of this but I thought I would mention it anyway. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted November 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 Fair enough Harry, but please can i ask for people to keep lobbying David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 Fair enough Harry, but please can i ask for people to keep lobbying David I'm with you there as I've emailed one who can't be bothered to get back to me so they won't be getting my vote. If they want £100,000 a year of the tax payers money to do a job they are not in the slightest bit qualified for then at least they should be able to answer an email. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamiedenny Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 I received this reply from the UKIP candidate in Kent (who on paper looks the best qualified to be a Police Commissioner). "Thanks for getting in touch: I am content that people without criminal records or mental illness, and with a legitimate reason (such as target or game shooting) for holding a legitimate (as opposed to a prohibited) firearm may lawfully hold firearms subject to the conditions of licences or shotgun certificates, I take it by "business" you mean Gun Dealers. I will do my best to ensure an efficient and effective firearms licensing department in Kent. Best wishes, Piers Wauchope " For some reason I read undertones in this. I haven't had a reply from anyone for Kent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 For some reason I read undertones in this. I haven't had a reply from anyone for Kent. So do I. Guarded, unenthusiastic and full of caveats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted November 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Although the law on firearms is made by Parliament and no one else, remember elected Police and Crime Commissioners will have an influence on the delivery of firearms licensing services to the shooting community. This service will be included in the police plan and will feature in the police budget. For the last fifteen years BASC has been the only organisation monitoring the delivery of this service to the shooting community. Consequently we are very keen to meet with the elected PCC’s for a briefing and discussion on firearms licensing services in their area. If we have an anti shooter as PCC they are not going to be inclined to invest in staff , time or services to support firearms licencing improvements, and may bring pressure on licencing fees for example. If we get someone who is pro shooting , and who can see the inefficiencies in some firearms licencing departments, not least of all brought on by those departments ‘making up their own rules’ then we could hope and expect they would do like West Mercia have recently for example and bring in positive and pragmatic changes to improve service. So it’s well worth lobbying and pushing the PCC’s to meet with BASC please. Thank you David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 My major concern is not so much service delivery by firearms departments but Chief Constables and now possibly PCCs making up firearms legislation on the hoof. CCs are bad enough, setting conditions that are not lawful according to prejudice or paranoia like mentoring, quarry restrictions, seperate storage, 101 etc etc. It should be illegal for CCs or PCC (or anyone else) to reinterpret or append legislation passed by parliament. They are not experts in firearms or in law and their public duty is to enforce existing law, not make up new ones. If traffic legislation varied county to county according to whether the CC liked or disliked cars, there would be uproar and probably litigation. I raised this in my letter to candidates. Politicisation of any public service is a thoroughly bad development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Gimlet, Chief Constables do not make up legislation. That's what parliament does. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Gimlet, Chief Constables do not make up legislation. That's what parliament does. Harry I know. That's my point. They impose conditions that are not law. Or some of them do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Just noticed that one of the candidates for Greater Manchester is an ex police officer with 30 yrs service , wonder if that experience will be useful to the role ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 My major concern is not so much service delivery by firearms departments but Chief Constables and now possibly PCCs making up firearms legislation on the hoof. You might want to reword this then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 You might want to reword this then. My major concern is not so much service delivery by firearms departments but Chief Constables and now possibly PCCs making up firearms legislation conditions/terms of use/ restrictions on the hoof. CCs are bad enough, setting conditions that are not lawful according to prejudice or paranoia like mentoring, quarry restrictions, seperate storage, 101 etc etc. It should be illegal for CCs or PCC (or anyone else) to reinterpret or append legislation passed by parliament. They are not experts in firearms or in law and their public duty is to enforce existing law, not make up new ones. If traffic legislation varied county to county according to whether the CC liked or disliked cars, there would be uproar and probably litigation. I raised this in my letter to candidates. Politicisation of any public service is a thoroughly bad development. Semantics. You know what I mean. A lot of extra stuff which doesn't protect the public, doesn't help shooters, over-burdens Licensing depts and confuses everyone including the ordinary copper who already has enough to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 (edited) I can see from the link to BASC's Website that only one candidate out of four has replied from Durham. Kingsley Smith...... Ind. I've emailed them all, be interesting to read the replies......none yet..! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE....Nick Varley--Conservative. Hi ******, Thanks for getting in touch. I usually get good feedback about the firearms licence team at Durham, so I'm relatively surprised by your email. I am happy for shooting to continue, and would oppose an further restrictions on the access to firearms. Nick Edited November 9, 2012 by Bazooka Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 I emailed them last night and got a reply back from one afore I got up this morning , see if the others respond . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Vector Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Just got this reply back from Linda Belgrove (independant, Essex); "Dear Mr Adams, My agent has searched my in-box and spam folders and cannot locate an e-mail from the source you have mentioned. I have replied to several people on firearms issues. Should I be elected I am of course prepared to meet with BASC. Please note the following statement: We all know there must be restrictions of some kind on firearms - they are designed to be lethal weapons (in most cases). I do though understand that it must be frustrating for responsible, legitimate gun owners who abide by the law to have to deal with any increasing restrictions of use and ownership. The Commissioner will not be a law maker but will be responsible for ensuring the public are heard. Should I be elected this matter will be discussed with the Chief Constable. Regards Linda Belgrove Independent Candidate for Police & Crime Commissioner of Essex" She claims that she didn't get the Email from BASC. Can you confirm this please David BASC? Won't be getting my vote in any case with such a vague and bland response." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted November 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 We sent e-mails to all candidates, not sure why she did not get it, others did. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Graffius Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Have just spoken to Linda Belgrove and her agent. I checked our outgoing emails and let them know that we had emailed Linda on the 11th October, confirmed it was the correct email address and found that our system said it had not been opened. They were throroughly pleasant to deal with and I note that Linda Belgrove now has two ticks on the BASC website. Christopher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Vector Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Two ticks maybe but is this as result of being taken to task over her lack of response? Based on this fact alone my vote will NOT be going her way! I've also Emailed the Essex candidates. The UKIP candidate (Smith) has made no response at all, so no vote going his way either. Nick Alston (conservative) has at least replied to my Emails but, in my opinion, has failed to give clear and consistent answers. Starting to limit the field a bit... These people really need to wake up to these issues (although they are not only ones but are ones important to a lot people who have the vote) and take note. Thanks for your efforts Christopher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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