LeadWasp Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 (edited) I am really surprised that the police don't collar u lot v often. We very often come across the boys in blue when we are lamping but we have a lot of poaching near us. Hi Dob I haven't heard of a single incident concerning police response to lawful shooting in West Sussex, Surrey or Hants. It may be very different south of the Downs nearer to Chi, Havant or Pompey, closer to population centres, but it's pretty chilled up here. The thing is - realistically - if there is night time gunfire which is it more likely to be...pest control or a revolution in swing? The police have most likely turned up because somebody has called in, which just goes to show what a bunch of frightened rabbits some people have become. Calling in to notify is tantamount to requesting permission and we shouldn't really go there. I know the police are asked to be child minders for the population at large these days but addressing the overwrought worries of the neurotic is not something we should be asked to do. We made it through 30 or more years of a period of very violent terrorism, which caused far more damage in the mainland than that of recent years, with old ladies sleeping soundly in their beds. We didn't have to notify then so what has changed? If you follow the argument through to it's logical extension which is that everyone must therefore notify, then the police would actually be saying that they can't countenance shooting without their direct involvement on a case by case basis. Surely this means that a crisis point has been reached between that force and their certificate holders. If that is the case then there are serious issues afoot. Edited October 31, 2015 by LeadWasp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dob Posted October 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 I have to say that each time I have been stopped the officers involved knew absolutely nothing about firearms and were in no way accustom to the country life and therefore called the armed response unit .whether it was a panic response or just overeaction I don't know but it is a major ball ache having the motor searched and an explanation why I have knives, snares and other vermin control items in my vehicle. I therefore let them know now so I am in there company for 5 mins instead of an interigation for an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 well I'm sorry for you bad experiences ...may be I've been lucky :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 You never see the Police here in the day let alone night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 who the hell lamps that's so 20th century NV and thermal have been invented so there is no need to lamp and I would never tell the police I am tonight on MY permission or land it is funny jumping out on the poachers who are lamping last Monday there were 6 blokes and nine dogs they wont be back as I had a quiet word and they then understood the error of there ways I informed them that lamping is so 1990s they wont be back -----EVER Agree ref not notifying police. I think the lamp still has its place and has a number of benefits including cost. I have 2 NV set ups but still use a lamp to spot with before switching to NV (cant justify the costs of a thermal spotter). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 I've never called the Police to confirm a shooting/lamping trip (other than when I humanely dispatched an injured deer by the roadside early one morning with a 12 bore). My lamping area has a few houses around on an urban fringe but they all seem to know the farmer and appreciate that the bunnies need keeping down. One occasion we had the local helicopter hover low over the field where my sons & I were shooting air rifles, taking a jolly good look at us (we waved & smiled) before sodding off back to base. Rather irritating. Next time I will take a picture of it and post it up on their Twitter account ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 I really don't see a problem in making a phone call. The police are pretty thinly stretched as it is without having to waste time turning out because some busy body has reported seeing you. Much easier for them to be able to phone you and say "is that you on top field? Its better they get to know you anyway. Community Policing and all that, its not big brother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 Much easier for them to be able to phone you and say "is that you on top field? Its better they get to know you anyway. Community Policing and all that, its not big brother This always makes me chuckle and seems quite alien to me having no mobile signal for miles and therefore no reason to own a mobile phone. Perhaps that is why our police, quite sensibly, see no need and do not wish for shooters to do so. Such a scheme would require us to invest heavily in carrier pigeons and teaching them to fly at night ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 (edited) How long will it be before someone phones in to say they will be shooting at xyz and they are told they can't. No one can say it won't happen because the same sort of thing happened at a hunt on saturday, the hunt with hounds where stood in a field waiting for the trail layers to finish when the sabs started being a pain and the police told the hunt to move on not the sabs! Edited November 4, 2015 by bluesj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 That is disgraceful. How long will it be before someone phones in to say they will be shooting at xyz and they are told they can't. No one can say it won't happen because the same sort of thing happened at a hunt on saturday, the hunt with hounds where stood in a field waiting for the trail layers to finish when the sabs started being a pain and the police told the hunt to move on not the sabs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nighteye Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 (edited) I really don't see a problem in making a phone call. The police are pretty thinly stretched as it is without having to waste time turning out because some busy body has reported seeing you. Much easier for them to be able to phone you and say "is that you on top field? Its better they get to know you anyway. Community Policing and all that, its not big brother. I phone in to the call centre and let them know , it saves me having to deal with inexperienced officers for a whole lot longer should a problem arise, just my opinion though. Edited November 4, 2015 by nighteye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx4cabbie Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 We moved our clay shoot to another nearby farm as the land was sold out from under us, the new place's neighbour didn't like the idea of a clay shoot kicking off at 10am for 3 hrs every other Sunday, and started being a pain. Police were called to a report of "armed men running around a field with guns, firing indiscriminately ". When they arrived, we explained we had permission, were undertaking a lawful activity, were not firing indiscriminately - just in one safe direction with over 500yards of dead ground, and most of us wouldn't run unless greggs had a sale. They were fine, and left amicably. Next shoot, police helicopter comes overhead, then farmer calls to say they're in the car park. Again we troop out, there have been reports of armed men........ This happened several times, 14 to be precise, and after the first few we did ask, "would it not be easier if we called you and marked your card that we're shooting?" They replied that any report of firearms HAS TO BE investigated, and even if we called at 9 to say we are in field x shooting from 10-13.00, when the bill get a call at 11 about armed men in field x, they have to respond. At one point the armed response unit was trundling it's way to us, got caught in traffic, and a little wpc stood at the edge of the field, not wanting to get caught in the ankle deep mud, and confirmed our bona fides. Shortly after that the neighbour got a visit from the police, and a chat about wasting their time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 (edited) Nope; it's got absolutely nothing to do with them. I do however, always inform the landowner. It simply isn't that black and white. I shoot professionally in all environments and there are times it IS something to do with them. This is a Garden centre I shoot on, it is next to a major roundabout on an A road, and the pedestrian bridge gets plenty of traffic. I am in clear view of motorists on the road and pedestrians. There are times it is distinctly to my advantage to let the police know. The approach from anyone who can see the bigger picture is, use your brains. "it's got absolutely nothing to do with them" is a misguided narrow view. One of my shooting positions on site, rifle on bipod bottom centre. Edited November 4, 2015 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 (edited) who the hell lamps that's so 20th century NV and thermal have been invented so there is no need to lamp and I would never tell the police I am tonight on MY permission or land it is funny jumping out on the poachers who are lamping last Monday there were 6 blokes and nine dogs they wont be back as I had a quiet word and they then understood the error of there ways I informed them that lamping is so 1990s they wont be back -----EVER i still lamp in the 20th century like i have bee doing for 34 years, i like to see stuff with my own eyes, i still shoot running rabbits, rats and fox with my fully moderated 12 gauge on the lamp. yes i agree night vision can have its part to play for different tools for different jobs but it is not the be all and end all and each to their own prefered method. atb 7diaw Edited November 4, 2015 by 7daysinaweek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 It simply isn't that black and white. I shoot professionally in all environments and there are times it IS something to do with them. The approach from anyone who can see the bigger picture is, use your brains. "it's got absolutely nothing to do with them" is a misguided narrow view. The OP's question was 'How many of you inform the police before going lamping?' and I replied, 'Nope, it has absolutely nothing to do with them', because from my point of view it hasn't, as I don't shoot in garden centres, whereas from your point of view it obviously has, as you do shoot in garden centres. I was answering for myself and not on behalf of the PW massif, otherwise I would be arguing my point against all those who have stated they do ring in. It's a decision the individual has to make. I shoot around caravans on a regular basis; I still don't ring in because I don't need to, but like I said I always inform the landowner. It has absolutely nothing to do with the police, but if you feel it's in your own best interests to ring them then ring them, if it isn't then don't. Neither is compulsory. Use your brains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 I have to say that each time I have been stopped the officers involved knew absolutely nothing about firearms and were in no way accustom to the country life and therefore called the armed response unit .whether it was a panic response or just overeaction I don't know but it is a major ball ache having the motor searched and an explanation why I have knives, snares and other vermin control items in my vehicle. I therefore let them know now so I am in there company for 5 mins instead of an interigation for an hour. Trying to understand here? They called the Armed Response in? Had you produced your FAC and permission letter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 Trying to understand here? They called the Armed Response in? Had you produced your FAC and permission letter? Any report involving a firearm and the procedure is for an armed response automatically, Wasting everybody's time. its box ticking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 Trying to understand here? They called the Armed Response in? Had you produced your FAC and permission letter? Since when have you had to produce a permission letter never had one and i cover 30+ farms and 2 golf courses.. Only time i have ever been asked for one is at renewal even then i just give my farmers phone number and the feo calls him.. usually from my phone.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 As I said, just trying to understand? Vince, I don;t see anywhere that the initial police response was in relation to a firearm call, just that the first officers called them in due to not being accustomed to country life? Mike,you are one lucky chap but it's not like that here? You may well find things different for you at next renewal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 Yes we are lucky, Its been the same at the last 3 renewals we have a good feo he asks if anything has changed, are you still shooting so @ so farm if the answer is yes he just rings said farmer to confirm i have permission for all my guns on his land.....22 rimmy .17hmr.. 223 243 308. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 I do when I am lamping in cities BUT and its a big but...ARU won't give a shizzle either way having had a friend on his knees with a gun pointed at him while they rang up the Head Greenskeeper at midnight! its a formality but I thankfully have never had to test its effectiveness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 (edited) The general format round my way is that Police will always respond in some way to a report of a firearms incident, that will most commonly involve sending Ordinary Police to investigate (or phoning you if you have told them you are in the area), they will then decide if armed response will be required. 3 brushes with the law whilst shooting quickly come to mind, but there may have been one or two more, and one phone call about a site where shots had been reported, but I was miles away at home with that one. Interestingly, where I met the nice policemen I hadn't advised them, and I wasn't actually at the site that called me, never did find out what happened there. The armed response were not called to any of these incidents where I met the police, although on one site 2 rookie coppers were about to call them when I suggested they check PNC and the National Firearms Database (which they had never heard of). We had strolled back to my motor with them at this stage, where they had enquired of us....are they real guns, you know, not air rifles (or a phrase along those lines...... they had thought our shouldered rifles were fishing rods when they first saw us ) then we showed them our FACs to be greeted with the words....Oh, that's what they look like, never seen one before! Fortunately they were reasonable and we had a bit of a laugh in the end, it was an eye opener and learning experience for them and I seem to remember we parted with a smile and a handshake. Edited November 10, 2015 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 If a member of the public report they are concerned about someone they've seen with a gun, the police will be coming out whether you've rang them or not. If they know you're in the area and have your number it might save a little bit of time/effort, but they'll still be attending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peek-at Posted November 13, 2015 Report Share Posted November 13, 2015 I really don't see a problem in making a phone call. The police are pretty thinly stretched as it is without having to waste time turning out because some busy body has reported seeing you. Much easier for them to be able to phone you and say "is that you on top field? Its better they get to know you anyway. Community Policing and all that, its not big brother Well said sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malantone Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 + ONE couldn`t agree more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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