gibspoon Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 After a decent afternoon with the boom-stick, I had a visit from the old bill last night at 2330hrs. He basically said, "Nothing to worry about, it's just that someone saw you wearing camouflage and acting suspiciously, like you were trying to hide your gun". I asked him inside as he's fellow plod, and offered him a brew. Then he said, "She saw your car parked beside her field, and when she heard shots she wasn't sure if you were on her land or not." Well if she saw me, she'd know that I was in a permission I've been on for some time, and not on her land. I asked her for permission about two years ago but she politely knocked me back. I told the copper where I'd been shooting and showed him my permission slip (which fortunately I have filled out ready to apply for a firearms ticket) and my SGC. I showed him everything I could, which perplexed him, because in his words, he didn't really know anything about guns!!! I just wanted him to see that everything was in tip-top order because I'm sticking in for my ticket this month and the last thing I need is a black mark over nothing. I found it all a bit weird, because nothing seemed to have been achieved by the visit.....my car was seen, it's registered to me at home, and I will be shown as an SGC holder on the National Firearms Licensing Management System. So the copper visits, and doesn't really get anything apart from me saying, "Yes, it was me, I was out shooting with my legal gun that you already know about...." It left me feeling like a naughty schoolboy! I'm not going down the route of notifying the local nick every time I go out because I don't believe in giving a yard when you don't have to give an inch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 The fact he has spoken to you and you have said it was you and everything is in order is what they wanted to hear so the incident can be closed and not further action is required. With firearms incidents they like to make sure everything has been don't to ensure all is in order. That's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 The fact he has spoken to you and you have said it was you and everything is in order is what they wanted to hear so the incident can be closed and not further action is required. With firearms incidents they like to make sure everything has been don't to ensure all is in order. That's all. Similar thing reported when we were shooting pheasants - no late visit, armed response but they had difficulty finding us. Nice chaps but a bit OTT for a single complaint. Here a firearms incident merits the works, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 You may have been poaching, nobody is to know you had authority to be where you were, unless they ask and receive proof. I wish the police always responded this way when we reported actual poachers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Getting a touch of this sort stuff at the minute round these parts, well me and fellow as shooters. Always the same had a report yada yada. Then gets round to you should report to the police were your shooting before leaving the house. They seem to be having a bit of a drive on people reporting the activities in leicestershire at present and am pretty sure the visits and the phone calls are related as they have not yet sent the guys with guns. Surely if they thought you were acting suspiciously with a gun the armed response would be the first to arrive. Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 We were doing some conservation work, Cutting Trees, Coppers got called, he said he had to come out as it was a reported incident. Some people have nothing better to do.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highbird70 Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I would take it very positively, the officer visit, now he knows that you are 100% genuine, next time she calls, the officer might be there to tell her that its all ok for you to be there. ATB Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I think you did the right thing and handled it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I think you did the right thing and handled it well. I agree and if you had been doing anything wrong I suspect your body language would have given you way and they would dig deeper. You where doing nothing wrong and showed they that end of story end of case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 23.30 !!! You were shooting in the afternoon, and they didnt respond to the call from a worried member of the public until then, I'de have told them to come back at a more convienient time. Mind you i would of had my jim-jams on at 22.30 Cup of tea they would of had been offered a cup of Horlicks IF they were lucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I'm trying to understand what prompted the call to the Police. If she was polite in declining your request for permission, chances are you could politely & with a smile, reassure her that you were not on her land, would not dream of committing armed trespass and if you were to see anyone else doing so would let her know immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidsuffolk Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 It is all very concerning the way that the uninitiated can cause problems. Until recently I shot Practical Shotgun using a Saiga 12 (which to those that don't know it looks much like an AK47 with a fat barrel) and, being poor, had this as my one and only shotgun. It was on my FAC as able to be used for clays or on land for vermin etc but I was always worried when out shooting that some "helpful soul" would call the police saying there was "a man with a machine gun " or the black helicopters would be circling above. I knew everything was legitimate but you don't need the aggravation do you! That particular problem has gone now as I have replaced the Saiga with something more conventional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben0850 Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Getting a touch of this sort stuff at the minute round these parts, well me and fellow as shooters. Always the same had a report yada yada. Then gets round to you should report to the police were your shooting before leaving the house. They seem to be having a bit of a drive on people reporting the activities in leicestershire at present and am pretty sure the visits and the phone calls are related as they have not yet sent the guys with guns. Surely if they thought you were acting suspiciously with a gun the armed response would be the first to arrive. Karpman There was something in the press this week about a crack down on the hare coursing and poaching across Lincolnshire, Leicester and adjoining areas. I think three different police forces were involved in a joint operation / crack down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil3728 Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 23.30 I'd be in bed that late. The police just seem to operate on a differnt time to the rest of us, as though the police calling late at night is normal. Not as late but when I got my shotgun certificate, they came to inspect my cabbinet. (not installed at the interview) I had two uniformed police offices call around about 9.30 one evening. No call first to say they were on their way. As I was alone in the house my initial thought was somehting had happened to the Mrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I asked him inside as he's fellow plod Gibspoon - you refer to the Police as:- Plod, Copper, Old Bill. Your quote insinuates that you are in the Police. Did you not point out your misgivings to a "fellow plod"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highbird70 Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) Gibspoon - you refer to the Police as:- Plod, Copper, Old Bill. Your quote insinuates that you are in the Police. Did you not point out your misgivings to a "fellow plod"? There is something not right here......something fishy I would say Edited September 12, 2013 by Highbird70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibspoon Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) Gibspoon - you refer to the Police as:- Plod, Copper, Old Bill. Your quote insinuates that you are in the Police. Did you not point out your misgivings to a "fellow plod"? No. It was weird. Like I said, I felt like a naughty schoolboy! It'll make me think twice about how it can feel for someone when the police show up at the door, even for something quite innocent. I showed him my cert, and explained a little about what was required. I told him that I'd spoken to the lady before and explained all that. I didn't particularly lay it on, as I wanted the encounter to be as positive as possible. It's my certificate, and I'll do everything I can to make sure it stays my certificate. Edit-I am old bill. But I don't say it out of pride, I say it as a warning to others to try hard at school and avoid my fate! Edited September 12, 2013 by gibspoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibspoon Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 There is something not right here......something fishy I would say What's fishy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highbird70 Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 What's fishy? I meant, that she might have told a pack of lies to the officer, didn't word it the right way. General public, tend to dramatize a little more than what goes on in reality...ie: one shot as been fired= I saw a terrorist in balaclava with a ak47 shooting at least 20 rounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibspoon Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I see what you mean! To be honest, I'm slightly miffed because a fortnight ago her goats had escaped onto the road and muggins here put them back into her field for her. That, plus the fact that I've spoken to her before about permission, and another time when she asked 'are you here for the foxes?'.... I think she was having problems with her chickens. Still, you try.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 What's fishy? 2 day old halibut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibspoon Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 2 day old halibut A picture says a thousand words! So.... ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 Now I'm a bit confused. I would have thought as a police officer you would have understood why the police would be following this up and if not would have asked the officers this directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 Me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibspoon Posted September 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) As I said in my first post, I found it weird because a late night visit, five hours after the event achieved nothing. I UNDERSTAND that they came in case there was more to it, but if there had been, wasn't it a little bit late? I know that if I had been sent to that job as a PC, I'd be thinking what a waste of time it was. Edited September 13, 2013 by gibspoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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