kip270 Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 Have you read the news in shooting times about informing the police every time you go shooting. Have a read and let us have your comments please Here it is: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Becoming an informant Every time you go out shooting you must tell the police where, when and who you are with, according to the Hertfordshire Constabulary. A letter sent to an ST reader by the county's police force states: You are not under any obligation to inform us when you shoot, however, we do appreciate the fact that you do, as it could save an unnecessary deployment of a firearms team because members of the public report that shots are fired. The letter goes on to state that when calling the police you must be able to give them the following details: names of people involved in the shoot, telephone numbers, start and finish times, types of firearms being used, the make, model and registration of vehicles and the location that you are shooting at, as well as details of permission or landownership. Mike Eveleigh, firearms officer for BASC, commented: “Speaking as an ex- policeman, if shots are reported, regardless of whether they think they know who has fired them, they must send someone to check. It may be poachers for instance. As well as that, all the information they would require for each shoot would take hours to gather. Sadly, this is an example of someone who doesn't know anything about the sport that he is policing. The member we spoke to was concerned that they would be victimised if they didn't supply the information. It is ridiculous to think that the police want to know where everyone is shooting all the time.†------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 I hope every farmer in Herts. puts out as many gas guns as possible this winter and bankrupts them Imagine what saturday must be like in the control room as all the commercial shoots and recreational shooters phone in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead-Eyed Duck Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 More macho practice for the Swat squads - they love it! Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 During the day? No way, lamping though, every time. I have been through the whole "unload the weapon hands up" routine and don't care for it much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the pelt man Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 During the day? No way, lamping though, every time. I have been through the whole "unload the weapon hands up" routine and don't care for it much. I to have had the full works, even had 5 hours in Police cell & appeared in Court 3 times before case was dropped & they had to pay Me loss of earnings. That was back when i was 18. I'd much rather go through the ag of the phone call than being stopped by plod or even worse shot by mistake. It realy is no prob making the call, but i don't like that they are now asking you to call in when you have finnished. The times that we didn't call back they gave us a call about 1/2 hour after we said we would be finnished. I now that many of you have this attitude that i have the right so i ain't going to call. I'm not going to try to change your minds even though there are a good few reasons to obtain a log number. I'm happy doing it & more at ease & also smile knowing the do gooders who phone plod because they see me with a gun, don't get a response. It is a load of Boy Cow dung to say that they responed to every call reporting shoots being fired or seeing people with guns & I'm in Herts. We have been called a few times asking our location as they have had a call & the all clear has been given with no response team turning up all because we had called in. NOW READ THE POSTS SAYING OTHER WISE. PELTMAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 Ha if the police want to do that around this way they'd better drop every other thing they want to do. They'd be out night and day whilst the crims would have a field day at the banks and post offices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 Way back in the dim and distant past, we always notified the local seargant that we would be shooting in the hours of darkness (unless we were on the foreshore, which was very remote), because it made sense. To notify Police of day time shooting is very "over the top". I always let the Landowner/Farmer/Tenant know when and where I will be shooting in the day or nightime, so if he gets a phone call, or wonders who is shooting, he knows its me.......thats called courtesy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 When I first got my FAC I asked my FEO if I should phone the call desk to let them know my movements. She replied, there is no real need to do so nor are you required to do so. I did start out phoning my movements through but over time I have stopped doing so. In the main this is because we have never had any comeback and most of our shoots are off the beaten track or in areas where people know and accept what is going on. However, I really ought to start phoning in again. Never the less, I always inform the land owners of my intentions. I don't see that the Police need to enforce such a thing, I see it as being another infringment. But at the end of the day common sense and a good understanding of your surroundings would/should make the decision to phone or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead-Eyed Duck Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 When I first got my FAC I asked my FEO if I should phone the call desk to let them know my movements. She replied, there is no real need to do so nor are you required to do so. I did start out phoning my movements through but over time I have stopped doing so. In the main this is because we have never had any comeback and most of our shoots are off the beaten track or in areas where people know and accept what is going on. However, I really ought to start phoning in again. Never the less, I always inform the land owners of my intentions. I don't see that the Police need to enforce such a thing, I see it as being another infringment. But at the end of the day common sense and a good understanding of your surroundings would/should make the decision to phone or not. Axe - I agree entirely. I used to inform the police and no longer do this, BUT I do tell the land owners Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the pelt man Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 A lot of my shooting is carried out on Golf Courses which are full of do gooders & a few of them have houses backing on to them, that is why i call in. Like you others i dont always call in when out on the Farms. PELTMAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 I can see both sides of the arguement and agree with both sides! The only reason I don't always ring is because I forget to. However I do always ring the landowner, even when they say don't bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning GTS Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 Thank ---- i am next door with the Thames Valley no calls no hassle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 I used to do this, but as has been said, if they get reports of shooting they will send someone regardless of whever someone has phoned in or not. They have to for public safety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldBill Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 They don't usually send the big boys first anyway as they need a high authority to deploy a firearms team. They sent standard plod with an instruction to withdraw if confronted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 what ****, what ever next gone are the good olds days, when we used to walk down the rd with ours guns over our arms thats not all that long ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 It's only recently that the public have started veiwing a gun as a weapon. I hate them being given that title. They are countryside tools, that have a perfectly legitimate use. Too much meat in the supermarket I think, people don't seem to relate it to an animal anymore because the majority of townies have never seen a farm. They like to give their opinions anyway though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 I'm in Herts and have no intention of phoning it in its setting a dangerous precedent IMHO. But I do always let the landowner know especially when lamping as people always seem to call him. we've never had the plod turn up yet but I guess it probably won't be too long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pike Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 depends where I am shooting. If I am "out in the sticks" on one of the farms I don't bother - however If I am overlooked or near to people who are not used to guns going off for legitime reasons (I do work in Dagenham and live in Barking) I ring everybody who might possibly deal with a call from the public as I do not relish the thought of being shot. If calls start coming in regarding shots the people I shoot for are also likely to pull my permission to avoid any unecessary attention from anti's. Pike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 I'm in Herts and have no intention of phoning it in its setting a dangerous precedent IMHO. But I do always let the landowner know especially when lamping as people always seem to call him. we've never had the plod turn up yet but I guess it probably won't be too long I would strongly advise a quick call when lamping. Not telling you what to do, just saying I think in the case of being out at night, with a lamp you are better off phoning, and here is why. If you have a call logged and the plod get a call for the same area they are likely to show up to confirm its you, ie be a lot less suspicious and confrontational. They will know your name and can call you from a path or from a distance, and once they establish who you are they will be off like a shot. If you don't it takes longer, there are a lot more formalities and there is a much bigger chance of an armed response. Just my own personal view. In theory I agree if you are allowed there, have all the right tickets and permissions you should be able to do as you please and not call anyone. Thats the same argument as you should be able to leave your door open when you go out, you used to be able to, but would you now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P03 Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 It's only recently that the public have started veiwing a gun as a weapon. I hate them being given that title. They are countryside tools, that have a perfectly legitimate use. Too much meat in the supermarket I think, people don't seem to relate it to an animal anymore because the majority of townies have never seen a farm. They like to give their opinions anyway though. "A weapon is a tool which is intended to or is used to injure, kill, or incapacitate" a direct quote from the dictionary, whether you like the word or not ......all guns are weapons. Weapons are not dangerous it's the people that wield them that are dangerous. Back to the thread......If I am shooting where I am likely to be seen then I call the day desk and get a log number if I'm out in the stix then I don't bother it's not much hassle but could save me loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 They don't usually send the big boys first but a lot of the time they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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