dorsecore Posted June 7, 2021 Report Share Posted June 7, 2021 Just now, Kojak_79 said: I've been waiting a month from my visit really hope i don't have to wait another 3 months Where are you based Kojak_79? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK421 Posted June 7, 2021 Report Share Posted June 7, 2021 Absolutely no reason it should take 4 months plus, when other forces are turning new applications around in 2 months or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kojak_79 Posted June 8, 2021 Report Share Posted June 8, 2021 On 07/06/2021 at 13:25, dorsecore said: Where are you based Kojak_79? South Yorkshire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisO Posted June 9, 2021 Report Share Posted June 9, 2021 I had my home visit last Wednesday and my cert dropped yesterday morning. So effectively 5 and a bit days from the visit. All in all 32 weeks to the day, the whole process took, 224 days. Not a great service, but all things considered, I got there in the end. GMP are one of the five worst performing forces in the country, so some of you guys have every right to be frustrated if even GMP are out performing your force. Credit to BASC though, they really helped me out. Good luck to you guys still waiting, I feel your pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan8p Posted June 9, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2021 Do you have any idea what BASC did/said to help improve the process? I'd be tempted to join BASC if I thought they could speed it up, but surely the force can just reply to them with the same lines they give us........understaffed/covid/etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisO Posted June 9, 2021 Report Share Posted June 9, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, jan8p said: Do you have any idea what BASC did/said to help improve the process? I'd be tempted to join BASC if I thought they could speed it up, but surely the force can just reply to them with the same lines they give us........understaffed/covid/etc. I messaged them telling them my tale of woe, the guy replied to me saying he knew most heads of licensing and would ask for some info. He then got back to me saying he’d been in touch, they’d checked on my application and I was due to get my visit appointment within the next fortnight. I think having an official body, with a history of criticising forces and taking them to task, might have made them a little more helpful. The trouble is, when you contact them, your email or call goes to a caseworker, they just trot out the party line. Your enquiry never gets as far as the people who can actually answer your questions. I asked the guy at BASC if it was worth complaining to speed things up, he said they’d suspend my application, while they looked into my complaint. If I were you, I’d try to find out your forces head of licensing, then either write to him direct, or ask to speak to him. The caseworkers are there as a buffer it seems. Edited June 9, 2021 by ChrisO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan8p Posted June 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2021 (edited) Slight update...... apparently my application has been passed over to my local FEO to arrange a visit. Have been waiting a couple of weeks, no contact yet. Nothing happens quickly at any stage it seems 😂 Edited June 16, 2021 by jan8p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kojak_79 Posted June 17, 2021 Report Share Posted June 17, 2021 Good news things are moving on at last. I'm 5 weeks in waiting for them to post the certificates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan8p Posted July 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2021 End is in sight I think! Had my FEO visit the other day, he was happy with everything, cabinet checked, only thing he wanted was a letter from someone I've shot with to confirm they've seen me handle a gun safely etc, seems a bit of a box ticking exercise which I didn't think was necessary for a SGC. Anyway, no issue and I've had someone who I shoot with contact them, so they say it should be a couple of weeks and I'll get my SGC in the post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kojak_79 Posted July 21, 2021 Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 Good news. I'm still waiting for the certs to be signed and posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan8p Posted July 21, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 I think that is where mine should be as well, 1 week since my visit. I will be chasing once a week now until it arrives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted July 21, 2021 Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 Having had a shotgun certificate since they were invented in 1968 my advice would be: If waiting for a renewal.....chase it politely. If waiting for a grant.....keep your gob shut and sit back and wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan8p Posted July 21, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 Why do you think that? Are you happy for organisations to provide bad service and the public should just put up with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted July 21, 2021 Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 53 minutes ago, jan8p said: Why do you think that? Are you happy for organisations to provide bad service and the public should just put up with it? If YOU were granting licences for permission to own a gun would you not be wary of someone who seemed just a little bit too keen to get his hands on one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan8p Posted July 21, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 No, because the automatic assumption that someone is up to no good is somewhat irrational. It's like saying BASC are wanting forces to dish out certificates with less checks just because they have the gall to produce league tables and call out forces on bad performance. If some forces can process grants and renewals in 2 months, we have to assume they are to the highest of quality, and therefore a force taking 8 months should not be acceptable. People putting up with it just means it won't improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted July 21, 2021 Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 (edited) 43 minutes ago, jan8p said: assumption that someone is up to no good is somewhat irrational. What about making people wait for a grant to make sure it is really what the applicant wants and the application was not entered on a passing whim? Renewals should, obviously, be done to a deadline (renewal date). Why do you think anyone should be granted a licence immediately? Edited July 21, 2021 by London Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK421 Posted July 21, 2021 Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 (edited) Surely other than any medical reasons for not granting and criminal records what else is there to check out regarding the applicant? Secure safe? how long should it really take, I genuinely struggle to defend any force taking 18 weeks or more to process an SGC. Edited July 21, 2021 by TK421 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kojak_79 Posted July 21, 2021 Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 18 weeks would have brilliant been waiting 49 weeks since they got my application. And 9 weeks since my interview Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK421 Posted July 21, 2021 Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 27 minutes ago, Kojak_79 said: 18 weeks would have brilliant been waiting 49 weeks since they got my application. And 9 weeks since my interview Mate had his interview, week later he had his certificate (Cheshire FEO) 49 weeks is a total p1$$ take Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan8p Posted July 21, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2021 1 hour ago, London Best said: What about making people wait for a grant to make sure it is really what the applicant wants and the application was not entered on a passing whim? Renewals should, obviously, be done to a deadline (renewal date). Why do you think anyone should be granted a licence immediately? Why is it an individual force's place to decide to "make people wait" just because they feel like it? I think licenses should be granted immediately (i.e. after passing through the currently defined process) because there is nothing saying it shouldn't be, indeed many other forces do. If there was national guidance to say 6 month minimum for new grants, then fair enough, we all know the rules, we play by them. Anyway, I think this particular point is moot as I don't think forces enforce waiting periods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kojak_79 Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 I emailed them again and got an reply saying licences will be hand delivered next thursday 50 weeks in total from application to recieving certs. New applicants are being quoted 13 months for applications now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK421 Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 On 15/07/2021 at 10:50, jan8p said: only thing he wanted was a letter from someone I've shot with to confirm they've seen me handle a gun safely etc, I thought this part was a bit odd to be honest? A letter from ‘someone’ ? They just make it up as they go along, p1$$ed with power Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan8p Posted July 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 3 minutes ago, TK421 said: I thought this part was a bit odd to be honest? A letter from ‘someone’ ? They just make it up as they go along, p1$$ed with power I didn't question it, as it was easily done by the friend I shoot with, but still, you're right. His point was along the lines of he needs to be comfortable that I'm able to handle a shotgun safely before he will send my application over to be granted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK421 Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 27 minutes ago, jan8p said: I didn't question it, as it was easily done by the friend I shoot with, but still, you're right. His point was along the lines of he needs to be comfortable that I'm able to handle a shotgun safely before he will send my application over to be granted. I bet that will be the next thing they hit us with. We will have to pay to attend a shotgun handling and safety course prior to applying for your SGC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 (edited) Quote only thing he wanted was a letter from someone I've shot with to confirm they've seen me handle a gun safely etc, I too found this very odd. How would they know that someone, who you has seen you handling a gun, was competent enough to make that judgement? What if you had never handled a shotgun? Edited July 23, 2021 by Gordon R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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