silverhawk Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) A family friend has just put in for her renewal and been asked to submit a doctors report due to a concern. this concern is around 20years ago she was on Prozac only for afew months due to a divorce.It was mentioned at first grant 5 years ago and looked into no problems licence theres been no incidents etc since. So a cost of £75 for what they already know about? I'm going to be sitting this interview with her. Just an Update All went well. Had the interview and they thought it was a new thing as she had wrote it on her new application.once they looked into it they realised it was mentioned at grant 5years back. Had a great feo come over also had afew questions I needed to ask which they was happy to help me with. Edited February 27, 2014 by silverhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Contact basc. She doesn't need to get the report or pay for it. All she needs to do is consent to the police approaching her GP to gain a report. It's the responsibility of the police to get the report and to cover any costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 What force is this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwizard Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 A friend of mine lost his guns for three years because he had heart problems , they only let him have them back after he had a bypass op. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Contact basc. She doesn't need to get the report or pay for it. All she needs to do is consent to the police approaching her GP to gain a report. It's the responsibility of the police to get the report and to cover any costs. Especially for a renewal. Sounds like they're trying to do a bottom covering exercise like Durham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhawk Posted February 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 She falls under met police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 She falls under met police. Best contact her chosen organisation ASAP the FLM is able to contact her GP and request information for review. AFAIK the burden if cost lies with the police force not the applicant the information must be factual and there is a process check the latest home office guidance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhawk Posted February 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Thanks HDTV Will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Has there been any major changes in the staff at the firearms dept since her last certificate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhawk Posted February 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 All went well. Had the interview and they thought it was a new thing as she had wrote it on her new application.once they looked into it they realised it was mentioned at grant 5years back. Had a great feo come over also had afew questions I needed to ask which they was happy to help me with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 All went well. Had the interview and they thought it was a new thing as she had wrote it on her new application.once they looked into it they realised it was mentioned at grant 5years back. Had a great feo come over also had afew questions I needed to ask which they was happy to help me with. Your friend should still contact her shooting organisation and let them know,as there is no legal requirement for anyone on a first application to pay for a doctors report,and the force needs to be told they are in the wrong. BASC are keen to hear of any of these requests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 West Mercia actually have it on their website that it is now their policy for applicants to arrange to get their own medical report and cover the costs. I spoke to basc about this and they said don't do it!! It's only the applicants responsibility to give consent for the GP to be approached by the police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 West Mercia actually have it on their website that it is now their policy for applicants to arrange to get their own medical report and cover the costs. I spoke to basc about this and they said don't do it!! It's only the applicants responsibility to give consent for the GP to be approached by the police. Did basc say how long they anticipated this situation to carry on for before the home office issue the forces with the order to stop this type of action.this has been going on for a long time now do basc and the other organizations not yet have enough reports yet to action something as they have the ear of the governing bodies.not the individual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 West Mercia actually have it on their website that it is now their policy for applicants to arrange to get their own medical report and cover the costs. I spoke to basc about this and they said don't do it!! It's only the applicants responsibility to give consent for the GP to be approached by the police. Talk about making up their own laws, if you did similar in business and it countered legislation then you would have acted criminally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) Taken directly from west Mercia firearms page, http://www.westmercia.police.uk/applying-for-or-renewing-a-certificate.html "Warwickshire and West Mercia Police will no longer request or pay the costs for medical reports. We are now seeking applicants to obtain medical reports only as described to determine your fitness to hold a licence. Therefore, any cost incurred must be agreed and settled between you and your General Practitioner." Edited February 27, 2014 by Medic1281 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickson71 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 on the lancashire page too http://www.lancashire.police.uk/about-us/corporate-information/firearms-licensing "Lancashire Police will no longer request or pay the costs for medical reports. We are now seeking applicants to obtain medical reports only as described to determine your fitness to hold a licence. Therefore, any cost incurred must be agreed and settled between you and your General Practitioner." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) Interesting hopefully BASC will be on to it straight away. Also they state "reports" I thought it was only the records (facts) they had access to and that any report on fitness had to be made independently (Force medical expert) i.e. GP opinion did not count? Only factors which may have a bearing. From latest guidance 10.23 GPs should not be asked to give general access to applicants’ medical records or to offer an opinion on any of the medical information given. In particular, GPs should not be asked to either endorse or oppose applications, though it is open to them to do so. 10.24 Chief officers of police may reach their own conclusions as to the significance of the information supplied, based on their own knowledge and experience, but may wish to seek advice from the force medical officer where available in cases where the medical information supplied is difficult to understand, or where its significance in terms of the possession of firearms is unclear. Any final decision as to the applicant’s fitness, whether on medical or other grounds, should be taken by the properly authorised officer in the usual way. 10.25 Once the applicant’s consent is given, it is open to the police to approach the applicant’s GP at any time during the life of the certificate if there are concerns about the applicant’s continued fitness to possess firearms. 10.26 It is also open to a GP to approach the police at any time in order to pass on information of possible concern about an individual, whether a patient or not, who possesses firearms or is applying to do so. Clearly, the GP would have to be satisfied that their public duty to express their concerns outweighed the normal requirements of patient confidentiality. The point of initial contact in any such cases will probably be either the firearms licensing department, who will know how best to respond to the information provided, or the force medical officer (where available). It may be necessary in some cases where uncertainty remains over the significance of the GP’s concern for arrangements to be made for the firearms licensing manager to speak to another GP or specialist, who may be able to offer advice. Edited February 27, 2014 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derfley Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) Has anyone forwarded those links on to BASC's firearms department? Ok, since I'm a BASC member, and since it was a daft thing to ask if anyone else had done anything and then not do anything about it myself.... I've sent an email to BASC with the links for West Mercia & Lancashire's licensing pages. I'll keep the forum updated when I hear back from them... Edited February 27, 2014 by derfley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 I had a phone conversation with them about it a month ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Contact basc. She doesn't need to get the report or pay for it. All she needs to do is consent to the police approaching her GP to gain a report. It's the responsibility of the police to get the report and to cover any costs. This consent is given with every FAC/SGC application! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 This appears to be a self defeating cost cutting exercise. Information sharing between public bodies suggests, given the limited numbers, the OK from a Doctor re fitness to hold arms should cost nothing. Self defeating, as, who best knows when someone becomes medically unfit to hold a cert - a doctor, is he required to inform the police if Mr Shooter loses a shilling (mentally) - who will pay his bill? BASC need to kill this tripe stone dead via the Home Office - this idea of cutting costs is simply stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 You would hope reporting a legitimate concern would be included in the £100k a year salary ! As would providing the pertinent information to the FLO once every 5 years for the under 1% of the population involved......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprackles Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) Humbersides variation form requires you to declare any changes medically since application rather than waiting for renewal..... What's next....report any change as soon as it happens ? Its a slippery slope for sure the way its heading. Edited February 28, 2014 by Sprackles 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.