Kent Police SGC renewal.

[Cranfield]

An acquaintance telephoned me earlier in the week looking for somewhere to store his 4 shotguns.

His SGC ran out in February and he hadn't received a reminder, so forgot to renew.

Kent Police told him that a number of SGC holders are claiming not to have received their renewals, but renewal is the holder's responsibility, not the Police.

As he technically no longer has a SGC, they cannot/will not issue a temp certificate.

 

This prompted me to check my SGC expiry date and its August 2017.

I downloaded the renewal forms, intending to submit them ASAP.

They are all completed, just need the Referee section and the photos.

I have read the guidance notes several times and can't find any requirement for the back of one of the photos to be endorsed by the Referee.

I have to sign one and thats it.

The referee endorsement has always been necessary, so is this new ?

I have tried to phone Kent Police to clarify this, but its impossible to make contact, due to engaged phones, full "mailboxes", etc.

 

Any recent Kent renewers got the answer to this one, please.

 

 

[saddler]

Go with the advice online, probably safest in the long run...

 

Hear horror stories about their delays/backlog.

Up to 6 months for renewals.

[Old Boggy]

I had mine renewed after having a Section 7 for 4 months and am pretty sure that I did not get one of the photos endorsed by the referee.

 

Good luck with your application. Mine took 6 months including the section 7 time as I applied 2 months before it was due to be renewed as advised by BASC although my FEO said don`t bother to send a renewal off in advance as Kent Police had such a backlog.

I think that the new PCC has improved things substantially, but they are still sending out Section 7s automatically.

 

Speaking to a local gunshop, they were of the opinion that 50% of shotgun owners in Kent were actually on Section 7 permits.

That`s OK, but as you know a Section 7 allows the purchase of cartridges and the sale of a shotgun but not the purchase of one.

Hence the concern by gunshops !

 

Good luck with your application.

 

OB

[walshie]

Yep. You just sign the back of one of the pics yourself. Referee doesn't sign. That's definitely correct as my wife and son renewed towards the end of last year.

[saddler]

Section 7 is for ownership NOT use too, isn't it?

 

Mate with FAC renewal being processed (currently) received a Section 7 with 12 months validity...!

[Cranfield]

Thanks for the answers, much appreciated.

I intend to send mine off by registered post in the next few days. I had a run-in with my FLO at the last renewal so I don't want to give them any excuses for messing mine about.

 

My acquaintance has his guns currently with Kent Wool Growers and I think he said its costing him about £20 per week (£5 per gun), thats going to add up to quite a bit if they are there for 6 months plus.

[mossy835]

only you sign one of the photos,the ref has not got to.

[JJsDad]

The status requirement of the referee (JP, professional person,established civil servant etc) changed in excess of a year ago, together with the need to have your photo endorsed as a true likeness. I renewed in Feb last year and faced the same uncertainty when I came to fill in the paper work.

 

At that stage (Nov 15) the Kent Firearms Dept were still prepared to accept phone calls, however this later changed to only accepting phone calls after 2-00 pm and as the backlog grew

they would just not take calls via the phone. My FEO advised me when I chased him over my renewal that everyone in Kent was getting a visit as a result of suicides by people with legally held firearms. Despite 4 or possibly 5 calls to the HQ at Maidstone I still had not received my renewal visit by the expiry date and they refused outright to issue a Sect 7 permit. To make my situation even more uncomfortable they stated that there was no need to transfer my firearms to an RFD for storage. When I asked for that in writing I got a blunt refusal.

 

I finally got my FEO visit in April, around 2 months after my license had expired and surprise surprise he bought along my new license backdated to Feb.

 

A shooting colleague in Kent has now told me they are automatically issuing a Sect 7, but the expected renewal waiting time is around 6 months.

[rbrowning2]

Thanks for the answers, much appreciated.

I intend to send mine off by registered post in the next few days. I had a run-in with my FLO at the last renewal so I don't want to give them any excuses for messing mine about.

 

My acquaintance has his guns currently with Kent Wool Growers and I think he said its costing him about £20 per week (£5 per gun), thats going to add up to quite a bit if they are there for 6 months plus.

Why don't you put them on your certificate until they renew his? That will save him having to pay, or try FES he may be a cheaper option.

[Penelope]

Nope, use and able to purchase cartridges.

 

Section 7 is for ownership NOT use too, isn't it?

Mate with FAC renewal being processed (currently) received a Section 7 with 12 months validity...!

[Cranfield]

Why don't you put them on your certificate until they renew his? That will save him having to pay, or try FES he may be a cheaper option.

 

I have no cabinet room for them, who is FES ?

[rbrowning2]

FES Folkestone engineering supplies, buy my shotgun reloading stuff from him, but he is an RFD, selling guns, ammo, cartridges etc and gun transfers so may be able to help google him.

[fortune]

The status requirement of the referee (JP, professional person,established civil servant etc) changed in excess of a year ago, together with the need to have your photo endorsed as a true likeness. I renewed in Feb last year and faced the same uncertainty when I came to fill in the paper work.

 

At that stage (Nov 15) the Kent Firearms Dept were still prepared to accept phone calls, however this later changed to only accepting phone calls after 2-00 pm and as the backlog grew

they would just not take calls via the phone. My FEO advised me when I chased him over my renewal that everyone in Kent was getting a visit as a result of suicides by people with legally held firearms. Despite 4 or possibly 5 calls to the HQ at Maidstone I still had not received my renewal visit by the expiry date and they refused outright to issue a Sect 7 permit. To make my situation even more uncomfortable they stated that there was no need to transfer my firearms to an RFD for storage. When I asked for that in writing I got a blunt refusal.

 

I finally got my FEO visit in April, around 2 months after my license had expired and surprise surprise he bought along my new license backdated to Feb.

 

A shooting colleague in Kent has now told me they are automatically issuing a Sect 7, but the expected renewal waiting time is around 6 months.

The trouble with all of this is that it is make it up as you go along stuff. every feo comes out with any old toot. I was told " if you've got your paperwork in, your in the system and you are ok! but you try getting it in writing. tape any messages . photograph all weapons from every angle with the date and time on the picture. this is when you get a Baikal back instead of a purdy you have some evidence that the barrels were straight and round and the gun wasn't painted pink.

[Whitebridges]

With regard to photographs Home Office Guide on Firearms Licensing Law states on page 83 ;

 

11.7 The Firearms Rules 1998, as provided for in section 26(2) of the 1968 Act, require an

application for the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate:

a) to be accompanied by four identical photographs of a current true likeness of the

applicant and sized 45mm x 35mm. If a coterminous certificate application is made,

only four photographs are required. Ordinary passport style photographs are suitable

for this purpose. A computer generated likeness is acceptable if it is full face, against a

plain background and printed on good quality photographic paper; and

b) to be accompanied by the details of a person who has agreed to be a referee for the

applicant. They are required to be resident in Great Britain, have known the applicant

personally for at least two years, and of good character.

Edited March 24, 2017 by Whitebridges

[Scully]

A S7 allows ownership and use, but not the purchasing of cartridges I'm afraid; only a valid SGC allows that. Much depends on how well you know your RFD in my experience, regarding the purchasing of cartridges, but if all else fails I simply get a mate to buy them.

[belly47]

A S7 allows ownership and use, but not the purchasing of cartridges I'm afraid; only a valid SGC allows that. Much depends on how well you know your RFD in my experience, regarding the purchasing of cartridges, but if all else fails I simply get a mate to buy them.

it does allow you to purchase as confirmed to me via email from Kent Police and is also on BASC website.

 

 

 

I can confirm we have received your shotgun renewal and will deal with in due course.

 

Currently we are issuing temporary permits, you will receive one through the post around the time your current certificate is due to expire.

 

The permit will allow you to possess your section 2 guns and aquire cartridges, but it will not allow you to aquire any guns, it is a permit to possess only.

 

With regard to section one ammunition this cannot be acquired on a temporary permit.

 

I have copied and pasted below the Firearms law relating to section 2 ammunition for your information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.3. A permit may not be issued to authorise the purchase or acquisition of firearms or

 

ammunition (although section 5(1) of the 1988 Act allows the holder of a permit to

 

purchase section 2 shotgun ammunition). Firearms that are subject to section 5 of the

 

1968 Act, (for example firearms held under sections 2 to 8 of the 1997 Act), cannot be

 

held on a permit. Chief Officers should complete basic background checks (PNC, local

 

Intel and consider PND) to ensure the suitability of the applicant if it does not involve an

 

existing certificate holder

Edited March 24, 2017 by belly47

[belly47]

https://basc.org.uk/firearms/certificate-renewals/

[Snoozer]

It confused me when i was applying for my first sgc so i signed one and got the referee to sign one stuck that in the application and let them pick which one they nedded lol

FEO never mentioned it when he visited, didn't even offer the one back they didn't use

[Scully]

it does allow you to purchase as confirmed to me via email from Kent Police and is also on BASC website.

 

 

 

I can confirm we have received your shotgun renewal and will deal with in due course.

 

Currently we are issuing temporary permits, you will receive one through the post around the time your current certificate is due to expire.

 

The permit will allow you to possess your section 2 guns and aquire cartridges, but it will not allow you to aquire any guns, it is a permit to possess only.

 

With regard to section one ammunition this cannot be acquired on a temporary permit.

 

I have copied and pasted below the Firearms law relating to section 2 ammunition for your information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.3. A permit may not be issued to authorise the purchase or acquisition of firearms or

 

ammunition (although section 5(1) of the 1988 Act allows the holder of a permit to

 

purchase section 2 shotgun ammunition). Firearms that are subject to section 5 of the

 

1968 Act, (for example firearms held under sections 2 to 8 of the 1997 Act), cannot be

 

held on a permit. Chief Officers should complete basic background checks (PNC, local

 

Intel and consider PND) to ensure the suitability of the applicant if it does not involve an

 

existing certificate holder

Fair enough; I stand corrected. I'll tell my FEO when I next see him also. 👍

[belly47]

Fair enough; I stand corrected. I'll tell my FEO when I next see him also. 👍

I didn't believe it when my licensing department said it, and that's why I asked them to confirm it by email.

 

was amazed when they actually did put something in writing for a change!

[Old Boggy]

I didn't believe it when my licensing department said it, and that's why I asked them to confirm it by email.

was amazed when they actually did put something in writing for a change!

I know that Kent Police have had a lot of stick what with the backlog etc but I genuinely believe that they are trying to sort things out which is a credit to the new PCC. The previous incumbent AB was anti guns and she did nothing to improve only to exacerbate the situation.

 

I have always found the licensing staff at Maidstone to be most helpful under what must be very difficult conditions. Not sure whether I can mention names but I have dealt with Jenny Jeynes at Kent Police Maidstone on many occasions and she has always been very helpful.

 

OB

[winnie&bezza]

****! I sent my renewal off last Thursday and received a temp certificate by Kent police yesterday, but reading this I just realised I haven't signed the back of one of my photo's.

[mossy835]

so they might send it back for you to sign,

[TIGHTCHOKE]

****! I sent my renewal off last Thursday and received a temp certificate by Kent police yesterday, but reading this I just realised I haven't signed the back of one of my photo's.

 

Oh you PRAWN, ring them and ask if you can call in and correct your mistake.

[fortune]

I know that Kent Police have had a lot of stick what with the backlog etc but I genuinely believe that they are trying to sort things out which is a credit to the new PCC. The previous incumbent AB was anti guns and she did nothing to improve only to exacerbate the situation.

I have always found the licensing staff at Maidstone to be most helpful under what must be very difficult conditions. Not sure whether I can mention names but I have dealt with Jenny Jeynes at Kent Police Maidstone on many occasions and she has always been very helpful.

OB

Hi Chris. How on earth have you been able to speak with anyone? They generally don't answer the phone and the mailbox is permanently full.at one time I couldn't get through to my FeO either.

 

****! I sent my renewal off last Thursday and received a temp certificate by Kent police yesterday, but reading this I just realised I haven't signed the back of one of my photo's.

They might notice that in about six months time and say that it was your responsibility and that you haven't applied correctly and that you don't​ have a certificate and that you have to store your guns at an RFD and reapply for the Grant of a new cert with all of the cost and hassle. You'd better get some more photos and sign one.get in touch with your FeO about it and if possible actually take the picture into the reception and hand it in with a covering letter with all of your details and the cert now ect. Don't seal the envelope and show the receptionist and ask for a written receipt for it. They will write on the receipt that it is a signed photo for cert no. Xyz.