New FAC application Durham help

[Scully]

So you only have the word of your licensing authority that complying with the request for a GP's report will speed up your application? Have they explained why compliance speeds up an application? Does non-compliance mean an application goes to the bottom of the pile, and if so why? Have you contacted your shooting organisation? If so, what was the response?

If you applied in good time for your licence, regardless of whether you comply or not with the request for a GP's report, your licensing authority has to 'by default' issue you with a S7 permit if your current licence expires before you are issued with a new one.

If you have paid for your shotgun and have a receipt for it, then even if the gun shop goes under, it is still your property, though if the worst does happen the rozzers may want to know why a RFD sold a shotgun to someone without a licence, even on account.

Anyhow, it's entirely up to you which way you go about it, but personally I think by complying not only have the police got what they want ( an **** covering 'get out of jail free' card at the shooters expense) but our shooting organisations have also got off the hook of having to confront the licensing authority in question.

I really would be interested to know what your shooting organisation say though if you contact them. This has been going on for over a year now, and still no resolution.

[phaedra1106]

At the very least I'd write to the Chief Constable and also copy in the PCC outlining both you and your friends position, that you have have been subjected to unfair and unnecessary delays as a result of their inefficiency and have been made to feel that submitting the unnecessary medical request is the only way you may get your certificates back in any sort of reasonable time.

 

If your friend applied in May that's well beyond even the ridiculous 120 days Durham have been known to quote.

 

BASC or someone else really need to get something done about this, Durham are just getting progressively worse.

 

A fellow shooter at one of my clubs dropped off his Fac for variation at the new office, he was greeted at the door by a somewhat unhappy police person asking how he knew they were in there!, maybe it has something to do with the bit on the Durham Police firearms website telling people that's where they've been moved to and where to contact them?.

Edited October 12, 2014 by phaedra1106

[Davyo]

Unless you under Durham you know whats going on,its ridiculous. I was told because I progress chased my sons FAC/SGC at mth 8 and made 2 phone calls that week,"we are doing everything we can, please be patient if you call again you could make it hard for youself Mr ######## when its your renewal if you call again.My sons FAC came back with the wrong forename but his SGC was ok . Regarding the new medical form,and I cant vouch this is true but one Durham lad who phoned BASC was ilegidly told "just comply dont give them any excuse to not grand renewal"

Regarding the sec 7, I signed my mates FAC renewal papers in Sept 2013 well in advance of his cert expiring.He rang them in December before he flew out to work fir a sec 7 as was worried it would expire while off shore.He was told ok it will be in the post.I got a phone call from him at at 2pm on xmas eve,he told me that he had checked his mobile in the heliport and there where 3 missed calls all from Durham.They threated to arrest him for illegal possesion of sec 1 if he didn't get his guns into an RDF on xmas eve.Remember he is in Aberdeen and he lives in Durham and it is 2pm on xmas eve.He rang Durham from Aberdeen and said he called on xxxx date before going off shore and was told one would be put in the post.He was shocked to hear the officer reply,we don't issue sec 7's and there is no record of your call requesting one.

Fortunately BASC did step in and sort it,but this is just one of many cock ups that I am aware of that myself and mates have experienced. Durham are clearly disorganised and seem to be making it up as they go along.If they are trying to restore public faith after the outcome of the Atherton tribunal by introducing medical checks they are trying to steer away the guilt.Remember it was them that gave this guy back his guns and jt was there 2 officers that stood in the dock at the tribunal and admitted that tbey hadn't read and were not aware of the home office guidance.

[Scully]

Perhaps all those in the Durham catchment should be writing to the Police, their shooting organisations and their MP's. Something clearly needs to be done, as from what I've read Durham licensing appear not to be fit for purpose. If this was the passport office it would have made the news by now, and despite whichever 'slant' the media put on it, I'm pretty sure that they would be interested to know that due to a forces inadequacies there is the very real prospect of guns being held by legitimate gun owners without licences. Maybe it's time for our organisations to show what they really can do...or can't, as the case appears to be.

[Luckyshot]

Perhaps all those in the Durham catchment should be writing to the Police, their shooting organisations and their MP's. Something clearly needs to be done, as from what I've read Durham licensing appear not to be fit for purpose. If this was the passport office it would have made the news by now, and despite whichever 'slant' the media put on it, I'm pretty sure that they would be interested to know that due to a forces inadequacies there is the very real prospect of guns being held by legitimate gun owners without licences. Maybe it's time for our organisations to show what they really can do...or can't, as the case appears to be.

Not everyone under Durham received service like this, I've never had any major problems with them.

[Bazooka Joe]

Not everyone under Durham received service like this, I've never had any major problems with them.

 

 

Your lucky...

 

For the last 40 ish years I've had problems with Durham at ever renewal in one way or another, due to their incompetence.

 

The last one, I went without a S7 for a couple of months, (**** covering excise after the Atherton affair) even after telling Durham on the phone that they must issue one.

 

Their answer was, Durham don't issue S7's, just leave your guns in the cabinet, don't use them, or circumstances may arise.

 

As Scully says, at times not fit for purpose..

[Luckyshot]

 

Your lucky...

 

For the last 40 ish years I've had problems with Durham at ever renewal in one way or another, due to their incompetence.

 

The last one, I went without a S7 for a couple of months, (**** covering excise after the Atherton affair) even after telling Durham on the phone that they must issue one.

 

Their answer was, Durham don't issue S7's, just leave your guns in the cabinet, don't use them, or circumstances may arise.

 

As Scully says, at times not fit for purpose..

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I have had a few problems with them but nothing that I couldn't sort out on my own (as shooting organisation at the time wasn't interested) like getting vermin on my 243 around 3 years ago before they rolled out AOLQ I had to go meet the FLM and prove why I needed it or the medical report that I didn't fill in. Each of these problems were sorted with no negative effect on either my sgc or fac renewals.

[Davyo]

The reason they dont want to issue a S7 as it is an admittence of not hitting their stats( not meeting the timescale for completion of the renewal) and goes down as a bad mark in their book.So the alternative is for them to lie "Durham dont issue s 7's", that 2 people in this thread alone who have been told this".So for the sake of their stats proving they are not fit for capabale of meeting national stats for renewals,they are prepaird to make cert holders illegally hold s1 or sg.Brilliant service.

[psycho]

Not everyone under Durham received service like this, I've never had any major problems with them.

I and my mate have never had a problem in the past ever they were brilliant

a variation would come back in a week and

I have even in the past had land verified in 2 weeks ---when I first got some land and additions of fac rifles rifles

I went on holiday come back and everything was waiting on the floor the service was amazing

now it is very annoyingit is not good service at all

, as I have said its the waiting if you are up for a renewal its taking months for them to get back to you

I am on day 98 and I am no further forward only know in another 26 days I will need a section 7 , but they do say can take up to 120 days

 

when I was on the phone 6 weeks ago I asked if it would speed my application up by VOLENTERING for the medical the answer was it may,

as its the dr contacting them rather than , the police contacting the doctor, so you would then think that bits sorted you come out see my safe is still on the wall check serial numbers etc and jobs a good one -------- if only it was that simple day 98 and not even my referees have been contacted like I say my mate is now on day 160 he sent his off 1st week in may and his is no further forward.

 

I don't know how they will cope with the new unannounced visits when they are not coming out to persons who want them to :-)

Edited October 13, 2014 by psycho

[Bazooka Joe]

like getting vermin on my 243 around 3 years ago before they rolled out AOLQ I had to go meet the FLM and prove why I needed it or the medical report that I didn't fill in.

 

 

...I've had the 243 for vermin one, but not the medical report, (next year I've a renewal) no doubt that will be the next one...

Edited October 13, 2014 by Bazooka Joe