Frenchieboy Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Our block of flats backs on to some woods which have a public footpath running right through them which is heavily used by dog walkers etc. My wife was helping to set things up for a bit of a "knees up" for the residents yesterday at about 6:30 and she mentioned to me that it sounded like someone was using an air gun in the woods. I sat outside for a few minutes but heard nothing so i assumed that whoever it was had gone. As a side note - I did once (A year or so ago) come across a couple of lads with an air rifle "plinking" in these woods and explained that it was not only illegal as the woods are council owned and I know that they will not give permission to shoot there so they could be charged with armed trespass, but also that it was extremely dangerous because of the chance of a dog walker or a rambler strolling across their line of fire without being noticed and getting shot - I also told them in no uncertain terms that if I found them shooting there again I would phone the police straight away as it would be classed as a very serious offence! Getting back to last night - I went to sit out the back to get some fresh air at 7:15 and heard a few shots from an air gun. Judging by the sound it was a spring powered air rifle and it was coming from no more that about 40 to 50 yards away. I had a good look to see if I could see who it was but the woods are so thick with foliage at this time of the year that it was impossible to see who or exactly where they were, but I knew that they were quite close to me. The next thing I know was that another shot was fired and it flew just over my head and actually struck the building just behind me. I have to say that judging by the sound this was not an accidental ricochet! Now I don't know if these lads were just doing a bit of "plinking" or even worse if they were shooting at the song birds, and to be honest I couldn't care less which, but one thing that I very strongly object to having shots coming at me, regardless of what sort of gun the shots are from or if it was accidental or intentional. With that I immediately phoned 101 and asked for an immediate response as there was what should class as a "firearms incident" and that there was a very real danger to the public. I also explained that if the response was quick enough there was a good chance that these damned dangerous idiots could be caught and dealt with! It took over an hour for the police to arrive, and even when they did turn up they didn't bother going to have a look for the shooter(s), they came to the property and sat in their car while they phoned me asking me to meet them inside the property to talk about what had happened. Now I have a very high regard for the police and I know that they do a quite difficult job but I have to say that they really didn't seem to be over interested in doing much about it apart from asking me to call them again if I heard any more shots. I felt quite let down by their response time and their (What seemed to me) lack of interest and all they were going to do was to get the local community officer to come and talk to me. Having said that I do not want to have this thread turned into a "police bashing" thread but I alway thought that if a "Firearms Incident" was reported the police would be quick to resond and act, but that is obviously not the case. Could I have done more? Maybe I should have gone into the woods straight away? What would you guys have done if faced with a similar situation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marki Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 What did you actually say on the phone? A very simple "someone just shot at me!" would, I suspect, have gotten a fast response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 My mates are coppers and I'd happily do the job buttttttt I was attacked at work by scum . The guy jumped through my van window hitting my face several times and then punching my £24k van . £650 for the repair :( I've never fixed it as I can't afford it. The copper said he will have to arrest us both But I'd done nothing . He said I'll loose my fac and to drop the charge??? Basc agreed it could get messy so I had to drop it. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Was it even an ARV? it takes far longer to get one of those on scene than one might imagine, to some you are just another fun target so don't mix it if you cant fix it just stay safely inside and call it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) Helmet on (I've always got one in the cupboard for such occasions as you can see from my avatar) and safety glasses if you have them to hand, go find *******, sit on them and phone the police. Edited June 15, 2014 by thepasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted June 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 What did you actually say on the phone? A very simple "someone just shot at me!" would, I suspect, have gotten a fast response. I carefully and thoroughly explained that there had been a shooting incident and that I had nearly been hit by a shot from whoever it was that was doing the shooting! Was it even an ARV? it takes far longer to get one of those on scene than one might imagine, to some you are just another fun target so don't mix it if you cant fix it just stay safely inside and call it in. No it wasn't an ARV, it was a standard patrol car with two unarmed officers, which is why I wasn't happy about the long response time! I would have thought that there would have been a standard partol car a little closer with a faster response time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Just because you ring up and say its a firearms incident does not mean it gets treated in a certain way. It does not guarantee ARV's and 5 minute response. The control room inspector will usually review the incident and make a decision based on the facts available what course of action to take. They will also be aware of what resources they have available and what other incidents they have to manage. In all likely hood there were probably higher priority jobs and they got to you when they could. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDRsniper Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Do not go wandering into a dark wood looking for irresponsible and dangerous armed people, if they are carrying a rifle they might be carrying a knife and either you or them are going to get badly hurt. In many cases building up a history is required for serious action to take place so keep calling it in and let the police do their job.......the squeaky door gets the oil ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckman91 Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I think you did the right thing just staying indoors because it is not worth the hassle and drama it would caus going down to them. as for the response from plod, totally unacceptable in my opinion they need to take a much stronger approach to this sort of crime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peskyfoxs Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I'd have been tempted to call 999 rather than the 101 non emergency number, in the end to the best of your knowledge someone just shot at you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p@cman Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I'd have been tempted to call 999 rather than the 101 non emergency number, in the end to the best of your knowledge someone just shot at you + 1 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 More the reason to get these under some form of licence, any responsable shooter would not object.My son had one pointed at his face a couple of years ago when he was out fishing.I had an incident last year when an allotment owner near my allotment wizzed a lellet past my head.When I went round he was not shooting rats but rather proud of the Robin,Chaffinch and Wren that he had shot.Phone the bill nothing done,maybe once these guns (firearms) are registed under licence the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Pete, did you mention "air" or "air rifle" by any chance? that may have affected their prioritisation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ordnance Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) If it was accidental and it was a air rifle could the police have done anything. Except tell them to be more careful if they took the rifle off them they could just buy another one. Edited June 15, 2014 by ordnance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzab Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I'd have been tempted to call 999 rather than the 101 non emergency number, in the end to the best of your knowledge someone just shot at you 110% agree. The call handler will instantly take you more seriously mate. 101 is a general enquiry line. Not thats an excuse for treatment you received. Dont think theres a police force in the country. Meeting even the most sensible expectations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuddster Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 You're call didn't meet the criteria for an armed response. it would have been risk assessed using the national decision making model all forces adhere too and a suitable resource deployed. just because a firearm is mentioned the plod won't send two arv's, dog van and a chopper at £1500 per hour. locally last night, there was an extra 25,000 people in town after a race meeting, add on England playing, add on it was a hot day so folks were boozing the day away and all resources were stretched including ambulances, A and E. Like you say, lads being lads fooling about with a borrowed air gun but being irresponsible with their actions. Atb Fudds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted June 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) If it was accidental and it was a air rifle could the police have done anything. Except tell them to be more careful if they took the rifle off them they could just buy another one. Accidental or not the point is that they were shooting on public land without permission and members of the public were being put at risk! It comes down quite simply to Armed Traspass and a very real danger to the public! Pete, did you mention "air" or "air rifle" by any chance? that may have affected their prioritisation I said that it was an air rifle which sounded like it was well up on power! Just out of interest I was not wanting or did not expect an armed response. However even though I recognise the fact that the police have a heavy work load because of the risk of danger to the public I would have liked to have seen a little quicker response time. You're call didn't meet the criteria for an armed response. it would have been risk assessed using the national decision making model all forces adhere too and a suitable resource deployed. just because a firearm is mentioned the plod won't send two arv's, dog van and a chopper at £1500 per hour. locally last night, there was an extra 25,000 people in town after a race meeting, add on England playing, add on it was a hot day so folks were boozing the day away and all resources were stretched including ambulances, A and E. Like you say, lads being lads fooling about with a borrowed air gun but being irresponsible with their actions. Atb Fudds I hope that no-one misunderstood my post. I would never have expected an armed response, choppers or anything like that. All I would have liked to have seen was for the police to attend within a reasonable time and maybe/hopefully catch whoever was responsible and take whatever action they thought appropriate, even if it had been just a strong word of warning Let's face it, if it were you or me shooting an air rifle irresponsibly in a public place or endangering others we would certainly get a little more than our wrists slapped! Edited June 15, 2014 by Frenchieboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I'd have been tempted to call 999 rather than the 101 non emergency number, in the end to the best of your knowledge someone just shot at you Exactly right, that way you would have got the immediate response you wanted/needed. Ringing 101 is almost a waste of time and a response on the same day as the call could be a record. 101 is like the clever queues at Disney, smoke and mirrors and distraction techniques. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted June 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Exactly right, that way you would have got the immediate response you wanted/needed. Ringing 101 is almost a waste of time and a response on the same day as the call could be a record. 101 is like the clever queues at Disney, smoke and mirrors and distraction techniques. I will hold my hands up and admit that I should have thought of that. I shall certainly remember that if there is a repeat of this type of "incident"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggiegun Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Just because you ring up and say its a firearms incident does not mean it gets treated in a certain way. It does not guarantee ARV's and 5 minute response. The control room inspector will usually review the incident and make a decision based on the facts available what course of action to take. They will also be aware of what resources they have available and what other incidents they have to manage. In all likely hood there were probably higher priority jobs and they got to you when they could. Harry It don't take them that long to come out while I have been legally pigeon shooting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 You must be the unluckiest person I have ever heard of, every few days your in some kind of situation..last week it was farmers shouting at you, this week your getting shot at... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 What did you actually say on the phone? A very simple "someone just shot at me!" would, I suspect, have gotten a fast response. I think a 999 would have been a better number to call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BattleFieldRelics Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 With reagrds to crime reporting. I reported an attempted fraud on the governments fraud line. End of the month I get charged £1.88 on my phone bill for the privilege. Wont be reporting that again. (Helps the government stats) In law you can use reasonable force. Someone in the dark woods shooting at you with a rifle, do it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 With reagrds to crime reporting. I reported an attempted fraud on the governments fraud line. End of the month I get charged £1.88 on my phone bill for the privilege. Wont be reporting that again. (Helps the government stats) In law you can use reasonable force. Someone in the dark woods shooting at you with a rifle, do it back. Worst answer so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I have been the recipient of a complaint from some **** that reported to the police that I had shot some body whilst out shooting rabbits. I would certainly not come out with a remark of that kind. I do think though that a quicker response would have been more appropriate, maybe it could have been worth asking at the time if a 999 call would have got a quicker response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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