David BASC Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Dear All, Following discussion between BASC and the Home Office, BASC has been informed by the Government that there will be no increase in certificate fees this Autumn. Police representatives have been lobbying for fees increases with figures quoted from £92 to £250 for a five year certificate which currently costs £50. A working party will be set up, which will include shooting representatives, to look at all of the costs involved in licensing and the potential cost savings of using online tools and e-commerce in the process. This will mean that police cost figures will be subject to proper scrutiny. The working party will report back in 2015. There will also be a review of GPs’ role in licensing to find a solution which helps to protect public safety, is not burdensome to administer and which does not penalise the applicant. BASC welcomes the constructive way in which the Home Office and the Government have listened to and engaged with the concerns of people who shoot. Defra, as the sponsoring department for shooting, has taken a keen interest in the issue as has the All-Party Group for Shooting and Conservation and its chairman Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP. Fees have not increased since 2001 and an increase will ultimately be necessary. BASC is keen to see service-level agreements made with the police to see minimum standards of service introduced. BASC will work to see that any increase is proportionate, is matched by better service across the different police constabularies and is based on reliable cost figures. Any developments will be on the BASC web site David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Some food for thought - I would have thought that the process of renewal requires much less work than a new application. Might there be scope for a much lower renewal fee than new applications in future? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted September 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Maybe, we are on the case David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 I would happily have the fees double if the service provided and the timescales were brought down significantly and you could rely on things being done when they need to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 (edited) Well Done, Now that the interested parties are in discussion and as an aside to the cost aspect. What about trying to pin them down on stupid conditions like mentors and differing forces making up the rules as they go along. Here is a good case. http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/256176-finally-a-bit-of-sense-from-kent-police/ Please read my post #.10 And post #.4 on this one is anther thing. http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/259019-shotgun-renewal-coterminous-certificate/ Edited September 6, 2013 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted September 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Part of the on-going review / campaign is to improve service and get slicker turn around - we will not accept paying more for a poor service!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedster Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 This kind of thing makes me glad to be a member! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Well done, I don't think anybody minds paying a sensible amount if the service is vastly improved, regional variations are got rid of and there is consistency in the system. Police Forces make so much extra work for themselves by all the misguided variation red tape, you should be cleared to acquire firearms up to the cleared limit of your land or range. End of problem and far less work for the police and if the new system was online, it would save £££. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Maybe the ACPO would like to make a contribution to the fees budget?, after all they are a private company (supposedly non-profit) and as far back in 2009 they had almost £16 Million in assets with £9.2 Million in the bank and a turnover of £18 Million a year from criminal record checks and providing advice to private companies. This is on top of the £15 Million it gets from the Home Office, for full details have a look here, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/4631631/ACPO-makes-18m-from-criminal-records-checks.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUSC Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 I think a fee rise is acceptable only if it's reasonable. £250 for what you get is preposterous with the current situation and it is likely to put another barrier in the way for people getting into the sport. This is especially true for the much vaunted but seldom represented "young shots" that seem to be left out as often as not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickyh Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 And include a plastic card like a driving licence,so we dont have to carry a huge certificate around with us, whilst we are in the mud soaking wet ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord O War Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 I agree with the plastic card idea the certificate is just stupidly big! Perhaps like the driving licence is with the paper part and id card, both parts used to purchase a shotgun and the photo card used when buying ammo or when you are out and about shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 I think if they do go daft and raise it to £250 then a lot of people will stop shooting (which is what some forces want) If they are going to increase it then they should all be singing from the same songbook, ONE set of rules which is used, NOT their own interpretation of the rules, None of this 1 county says this for fox but not that.......they should all have ALQ (Any legal quarry) as a condition for firearms, not named species I really like the credit card type certificate, you wouldnt need the paper part, my license lists everything i'm allowed to drive, guns could be the same It will only be a matter of time before some bright spark comes up with the idea of charging you per item!! Also we would want the same service from all......If Northumbria can have a very quick turnaround (most within 7-10 days) then everyone should get that service, We could use the same as Pizza firms do, if its not delivered in a certain time then you get a reduction on renewal.... Just my views Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 They really should be bringing this process into the year 2000...Get an online option to manage your guns, ammo and to book renewal time slots in a calendar. Have online live chat with FAO to discuss any issues. Have possible telephone interviews with the FAO then only one visit to check security. There are so many better ways to help lighten the load on this service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprackles Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 Part of the on-going review / campaign is to improve service and get slicker turn around - we will not accept paying more for a poor service!! A quicker turn around would be a definite improvement. I waited around 8 weeks for my FAC grant interview, was told he was happy to sign my application and he would put it in the tray to go back to headquarters next day. Rang headquarters up after a week to see if they had some idea of timescale to be told they had not got it back and to be aware they were working on 16 to 18 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SneakyD Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 It will only be a matter of time before some bright spark comes up with the idea of charging you per item!! That's how it is in The Republic of Ireland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted September 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 (edited) I've just read on the BBC web site that the police spent over £600,000 on music for its staff last year, the Met alone spent almost £250,000, on another thread we hear of a PW member that was revoked for no reason and had to go to court to get his ticket back - the police employing a barrister at probably hundreds of £ an hour to fight the case they were bound to loose, they deliver in many cases an inefficient and cumbersome licensing system...do they try to save money and get smarter? No they just try to wring more money out of us! Join the fight to stop this madness join BASC, get your mates on board and together we will keep up the pressure and deliver for all! David Edited September 7, 2013 by David BASC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulus Posted September 7, 2013 Report Share Posted September 7, 2013 why should one for one involve a variation, this could be done at RFD level, infact why does the amount of weapons of the same calibre matter at all?? reams and reams of paperwork to achieve what?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 well done basc, keep up the good work for shooters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I wonder if Hampshire will reduce their price to reflect their poor service...... As they are once again in backlog.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted September 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Andy Marsh - Ch Constable of Hampshire is not happy abut fees not going up, he was on Twitter on Friday...perhaps this would be a good question for you to pose to him? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I think it should be totally free of charge . I work and pay my taxes to keep the police in work so why should I pay twice ? Do they charge scroats that keep getting in trouble for stealing ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truflex Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Is there any truth in the rumour that those on benefits will be getting a discounted price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 no dout they will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Andy Marsh - Ch Constable of Hampshire is not happy abut fees not going up, he was on Twitter on Friday...perhaps this would be a good question for you to pose to him? David If I used Twitter, I would..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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