Conor O'Gorman Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 BASC’s campaign during the Police and Crime Commissioner elections has secured commitments from 28 newly elected PCCs to improve firearms licensing. Thank you to the PW members that took the time to make difference. As individuals we can still do more. During the campaign no replies were received from the elected PCC for the following forces: Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Durham, Dyfed Powys, Lancashire, Merseyside, Northumbria, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands, If you have a certificate for any of the above areas please write to your new PCC asking them to ensure adequate resources are given to firearms licensing and setting up an independent advisory group. If you get a reply please forward to me at conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk More information here: https://basc.org.uk/what-the-pcc-election-results-mean-for-firearms-licensing/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedward Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 Yes Conor I did, - unfortunately Hernandez was re-elected on a 22% turn out. Can you tell me her plans for improving firearms licensing, and hopefully avoiding another event like Keyham ? I believe one of her responsibilities is to hold the chief constable to account for the running of his force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weihrauch17 Posted May 8 Report Share Posted May 8 No I didn't I don't believe in the value of Mayors, PCC's or devolved Parliaments. All are a colossal waste of Taxpayers money that add no value to anything, just one huge gravy train. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted May 9 Author Report Share Posted May 9 9 hours ago, Tedward said: Yes Conor I did, - unfortunately Hernandez was re-elected on a 22% turn out. Can you tell me her plans for improving firearms licensing, and hopefully avoiding another event like Keyham ? I believe one of her responsibilities is to hold the chief constable to account for the running of his force. Thanks for doing so. Yes, one of the key roles of a PCC is to hold the force’s Chief Constable to account for service delivery. The PCC also signs off the police budget and policing plan. We had replies via members from the PCC for Devon & Cornwall close to election day, explaining that an extra 100 staff have been recruited into the firearms department with a copy of this report Devon and Cornwall Firearms Licensing.pdf (plymouth.gov.uk) Also, that the PCC will continue to engage with BASC and others along with maintaining oversight on performance. The PCC supported requests (from our template email) that their firearms licensing department would process grants and renewals within 17 weeks; and to setting up an Independent Advisory Group for firearms owners and the police, as recommended in the College of Policing’s Associated Professional Practice. Devon & Cornwall is amongst our priority list of forces to follow-up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 10 hours ago, Tedward said: Yes Conor I did, - unfortunately Hernandez was re-elected on a 22% turn out. Can you tell me her plans for improving firearms licensing, and hopefully avoiding another event like Keyham ? I believe one of her responsibilities is to hold the chief constable to account for the running of his force. Good post! We'll have to wait and see. It seems that the good lady has won over some BASC staff and also the NGO firearms chappie. It is reported that the firearms dep't had received no training in some 20 years. As she's been in post for 8 years, one could well ask just what has she been doing in all that time. 17 weeks for grants and renewals? There's a well known HMFs' expression for things of this nature, Had it not been for a switched on MP, my straightforward plus one variation would have taken heaven knows how much longer than the actual 25 weeks that it did. Yes, I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HantsRob Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 Conor, I thank BASC for getting the 28 commitments and co-ordinating that part. Without reservation. I also like that you're happy to help when people are having issues. I am curious though as to how people can help. I did vote as it happens. But this isn't a party specific thing of "must vote blue" for example, but the best candidate for an overall PCC. This could actually be to the detriment of firearms licencing, but could actually mean safer streets/neighbourhoods depending where the PCC gives time and effort. So I don't believe it's as transparent with a single agenda such as firearms. That's to say, Wymberley's example could put the PCC in really poor light, but they could be doing amazing work elsewhere. This doesn't make them a bad PCC, just a bad PCC from a shooting perspective. That said, I do believe that PCCs should serve their community, so the more people engage and request it, it gives leverage to "speak as the people" rather than from "the voice of shooting". As a combination, it should genuinely help, and hold them to account. Lots of guff above to say I voted, but for a holistic approach and not just shooting. As it happens, for me it was fortunately one and the same and aligned for both overall and shooting in my county. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 HantsRob - decent post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted May 9 Author Report Share Posted May 9 47 minutes ago, HantsRob said: Conor, I thank BASC for getting the 28 commitments and co-ordinating that part. Without reservation. I also like that you're happy to help when people are having issues. I am curious though as to how people can help. I did vote as it happens. But this isn't a party specific thing of "must vote blue" for example, but the best candidate for an overall PCC. This could actually be to the detriment of firearms licencing, but could actually mean safer streets/neighbourhoods depending where the PCC gives time and effort. So I don't believe it's as transparent with a single agenda such as firearms. That's to say, Wymberley's example could put the PCC in really poor light, but they could be doing amazing work elsewhere. This doesn't make them a bad PCC, just a bad PCC from a shooting perspective. That said, I do believe that PCCs should serve their community, so the more people engage and request it, it gives leverage to "speak as the people" rather than from "the voice of shooting". As a combination, it should genuinely help, and hold them to account. Lots of guff above to say I voted, but for a holistic approach and not just shooting. As it happens, for me it was fortunately one and the same and aligned for both overall and shooting in my county. Thanks. I agree that people will have many other priorities as to who to vote for, or reasons not to vote at all. The same will apply for the general election and again BASC's campaign will be focused on encouraging people to contact candidate MPs. People have already helped with the PCC campaign. Those 28 commitments from the elected PCCs are the result of circa 13,000 people using the BASC web platform to contact candidate PCCs during the BASC campaign. However, no replies were received from the elected PCC for the following forces: Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Durham, Dyfed Powys, Lancashire, Merseyside, Northumbria, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands, Thus, the request in the OP was that if anyone has a certificate for any of the above areas to please write to their new PCC asking them to ensure adequate resources are given to firearms licensing and setting up an independent advisory group. And to please forward replies to me at conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 2 hours ago, Conor O'Gorman said: one of the key roles of a PCC is to hold the force’s Chief Constable to account for service delivery. 1 hour ago, HantsRob said: That's to say, Wymberley's example could put the PCC in really poor light, The reason that my example would put the lady in a bad light has nothing to do with me; by failing to reply to emails which detailed a valid cause for concern regarding a poor service delivery performance she has managed this all by herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HantsRob Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 3 hours ago, wymberley said: The reason that my example would put the lady in a bad light has nothing to do with me; by failing to reply to emails which detailed a valid cause for concern regarding a poor service delivery performance she has managed this all by herself. I don't disagree in the slightest. That is terrible from a person in a public servant role! My point was more that it doesn't mean they aren't working hard elsewhere, but of course not replying to the people they serve is absolutely miserable and wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedward Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 Many thanks Conor, however your quote is nearly a year old : “Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel 7th July 2023 Devon and Cornwall Firearms Licensing“ As Alison Hernandez now starts her third term of office, can we hope for an objective review of any progress made in providing a more effective service to the customer, and of course safety to the general public. Basically, has there been any evidence based, measurable reduction in renewal times etc ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted May 10 Author Report Share Posted May 10 1 hour ago, Tedward said: Many thanks Conor, however your quote is nearly a year old : “Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel 7th July 2023 Devon and Cornwall Firearms Licensing“ As Alison Hernandez now starts her third term of office, can we hope for an objective review of any progress made in providing a more effective service to the customer, and of course safety to the general public. Basically, has there been any evidence based, measurable reduction in renewal times etc ? Yes, the report is from 2023 and in the emails sent by the PCC to members a few weeks ago was the update that "since this report an extra 100 staff have been recruited into the department" that the PCC will "continue to engage with BASC and others along with maintaining oversight on performance" and that "there is still a number of people awaiting a licence and if it is required for business purposes I can help get it prioritised. So please do tell people to contact my office on opcc@dc-pcc.gov.uk as I have told BASC and others to also do this". I have asked our regional office if there are any updates such as evidence based, measurable reduction in renewal times etc. Will come back when I have a reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 19 hours ago, HantsRob said: that it doesn't mean they aren't working hard elsewhere, She certainly was back-along - attempting to wriggle out of an investigation into an allegation of electoral fraud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedward Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 Again my thanks Conor, ref the extra 100 staff, are these actually “extra” ie over and above the numbers previously employed, or replacements for those who left, retired, resigned etc after Keyham ? Would it be possible to get an annual breakdown of departmental staffing levels ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HantsRob Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 2 hours ago, Conor O'Gorman said: Yes, the report is from 2023 and in the emails sent by the PCC to members a few weeks ago was the update that "since this report an extra 100 staff have been recruited into the department" that the PCC will "continue to engage with BASC and others along with maintaining oversight on performance" and that "there is still a number of people awaiting a licence and if it is required for business purposes I can help get it prioritised. So please do tell people to contact my office on opcc@dc-pcc.gov.uk as I have told BASC and others to also do this". I have asked our regional office if there are any updates such as evidence based, measurable reduction in renewal times etc. Will come back when I have a reply. To give you some credit, that's the kind of response I'd expect from a representative of BASC. Good update. I think Tedward's comment is fair also, but regardless that is one heck of an uplift even if 50% are natural attrition replacements that would otherwise have been lost! 2 hours ago, wymberley said: She certainly was back-along - attempting to wriggle out of an investigation into an allegation of electoral fraud. That does take a lot of their time and effort, agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted May 10 Author Report Share Posted May 10 44 minutes ago, Tedward said: Again my thanks Conor, ref the extra 100 staff, are these actually “extra” ie over and above the numbers previously employed, or replacements for those who left, retired, resigned etc after Keyham ? Would it be possible to get an annual breakdown of departmental staffing levels ? I don't know but these are the kinds of questions we will be asking when we secure a meeting with the PCC, this force is one of those on our priority list. Feedback from the regional office is that we don't have any details on the progress being made other than a reduction in calls relating to this force as regards Section 7 extensions etc. I think I mentioned in another thread that we may be producing a new report across all the forces for later this year based on data requests to each force. In the meantime would be helpful if you (or others reading this) could email the PCC office asking all these questions and letting us know of any replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted May 10 Report Share Posted May 10 i did vote and i never recieved any replies from candidates via the basc email.im in merseyside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted May 10 Author Report Share Posted May 10 18 minutes ago, hawkfanz said: i did vote and i never recieved any replies from candidates via the basc email.im in merseyside. Thanks for trying. Maybe worth trying the PCC office direct, post-election? We have had nothing back for Merseyside. If you get a reply do let me know. https://www.merseysidepcc.info/contact-us/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightlittlebits Posted May 11 Report Share Posted May 11 (edited) Voted in Hampshire, for the incumbent Tory Donna Jones. Only really as she was the one with a chance that actually replied positively to the contact. Sadly this is the same one that's said she's made licensing a priority over the last 3 years, in which time it's gone from 12 weeks to 10 months. Hants were called out in the recent NGO video as one of the worst now, similar size as Essex, similar license count as Essex. Essex say they're 2 working weeks, Hants are 10 months. What on earth is going wrong in Hampshire? It seems it's glossed over as one of the middle ground despite the massive recent drop in performance with a focus on those that are historically bad and yet seem to be improving, hell, Facebook has people in Devon and Cornwall saying they're receiving grants in 4 months. Edited May 11 by eightlittlebits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanj Posted May 11 Report Share Posted May 11 19 hours ago, hawkfanz said: i did vote and i never recieved any replies from candidates via the basc email.im in merseyside. Me neither, also merseyside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted May 16 Author Report Share Posted May 16 (edited) Video update from Fieldsports TV taken at the National Shooting Show: Edited May 16 by Conor O'Gorman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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