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How much influence does the FEO have?


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4 hours ago, Fil said:

I totally agree with the above. It's how it normally works. 

Not strictly speaking. The FEO has the most influence. The Head of Firearms would normally only disagree or interject with the FEO under more extreme circumstances. But they do have to sign it off and yes they are the last to make the decision. 

I'd like the think that the cheif would go on the recommendation of the FEO purely just to make the process easier.

He made it clear the decision isn't his but with that said, I'd like to think that going off the tone and the way the conversation went and telling me that would take 10 days to come through. I'd like to think he gave me the nod.

 

I see some people's negative experiences with FEO but I must say the FEO I had come across very professional and understanding even when talking about my arrest.

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17 hours ago, Bailey20 said:

I must say the FEO I had come across very professional and understanding

90% of them are. I'm lucky in the force area I work in. Our FEO is very much pro gun and encourages people to take up the sport. But sadly a couple of his colleagues who sometimes fill in for him when he's away are complete *****. 

Best of luck with your application.

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3 hours ago, Gordon R said:

If the FEO's opinion doesn't count for anything, there would be no point in them attending. Whilst you don't have to answer questions on why you want an SGC, it is part of normal conversation.

HantsRob - an objective and useful post.

Appreciated, thankyou.

Open questions are a great way to extract information conversationally, and prevents it feeling like an interrogation.

As a sidebar, for anyone interested, there is statutory guidance:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-guidance-for-police-on-firearms-licensing

Full details are on that page but what is pertinent to my comments:
 

image.png.a69a3b7870bef41fe81c574223a95186.png

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8 hours ago, Gordon R said:

If the FEO's opinion doesn't count for anything, there would be no point in them attending. Whilst you don't have to answer questions on why you want an SGC, it is part of normal conversation.

HantsRob - an objective and useful post.

Exactly, and my thoughts, why bother interviewing people if you know their going to be turned down by the chief.

 

And as for questions I agree, why would you not tell them what you want it for ? Obviously no ones going to say "I'm going to shoot up a school" but if you have a clear reason for why you want one, game, clay shooting, pest controle on a farm, it that looks better than saying its none of your dam business 

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On 27/09/2024 at 20:25, Bailey20 said:

Exactly, and my thoughts, why bother interviewing people if you know their going to be turned down by the chief.

Actually it's really important.

Reading documents and other opinions on the local systems paints a picture. But, we have all had a bad day, and sometimes a writeup may not reflect it. It may be that you are unsuitable by what others have read, but an interview also lets you give another account.

"I was young, stupid, and 18. Yes I hit him and not a day goes by that I haven't regretted it, and I would take it back. It was 15 years ago and him being on life support changed my life, I would do anything to go back and stop myself".

Can you imagine not having a chance to say something like that, rather than just reading "violent youth hospitalises innocent victim"?

Whilst the decision may be made in many cases, there are so many things that just need to be sanity checked. 

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57 minutes ago, Bailey20 said:

Well its been over 5 days now so half way through the time I was told it takes to print the cert. If I wasn't going to be getting the cert, would I be right in thinking they would have contacted me by now to let me know ? 

I had my interview and was told it was usually 1-2 weeks.

It was then 100 days later it landed.

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2 hours ago, Bailey20 said:

Well its been over 5 days now so half way through the time I was told it takes to print the cert. If I wasn't going to be getting the cert, would I be right in thinking they would have contacted me by now to let me know ? 

Unless you are only planning to shoot inanimate targets you will eventually learn that most types of shooting sports require lots of patience. Something you do not seem to have.
 

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1 hour ago, HantsRob said:

I had my interview and was told it was usually 1-2 weeks.

It was then 100 days later it landed.

 

1 hour ago, Dave-G said:

Can sometimes take several weeks + mine was 10 months.

Christ I hope it's not that long, was hoping it would come to catch some of the season

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19 hours ago, London Best said:

Unless you are only planning to shoot inanimate targets you will eventually learn that most types of shooting sports require lots of patience. Something you do not seem to have.
 

To be fair LB, I expect you have had your licence a short while now. I think most shooters get that excitement, I know I did! 

I do agree patience is needed regardless, even as a clay shooter. Lots of it. 

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6 minutes ago, HantsRob said:

To be fair LB, I expect you have had your licence a short while now. I think most shooters get that excitement, I know I did! 

I do agree patience is needed regardless, even as a clay shooter. Lots of it. 

My question was more about would they let me have known by now after my interview if I wasn't going to get it? as a pose to "whens it coming! whens it coming!"

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3 minutes ago, Bailey20 said:

My question was more about would they let me have known by now after my interview if I wasn't going to get it? as a pose to "whens it coming! whens it coming!"

Either way, I was excited as heck to get mine, and had moments of lack of patience.

Also, no, it could be if it's a "no" that the FEO's manager still needs to ratify it's a no. Think of 2 piles on the person's desk, one pile saying "these are all yes" and "these should never have one!". I suspect the yes pile has less scrutiny, whereas the no pile would require everything checking to ensure impartiality.

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  • 3 weeks later...

3 weeks after having my visit/interview and me waiting for the post every morning, I got a phone call from feo to clarify a point as they’d “mistyped” something. I gave the info and then waited another 3/4 weeks for my cert to come through. 🤦‍♂️

 

On another note, I’ll bow to more experienced folks but I was under the impression, when you put in your application and pay the fee, you are entitled to an interview ?  I guess unless you are barred in some way, but who’d apply if they were barred? 

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On 19/10/2024 at 21:48, Mfozz said:

3 weeks after having my visit/interview and me waiting for the post every morning, I got a phone call from feo to clarify a point as they’d “mistyped” something. I gave the info and then waited another 3/4 weeks for my cert to come through. 🤦‍♂️

 

On another note, I’ll bow to more experienced folks but I was under the impression, when you put in your application and pay the fee, you are entitled to an interview ?  I guess unless you are barred in some way, but who’d apply if they were barred? 

I am assuming you mean 3-4 weeks and not 3/4 weeks? It could just be the manager who can sign off wasn't available for a few weeks as they typically do them in batches.

You are not entitled to an interview. However, it is most forces policy to do an interview as a mandatory step. You are correct that if it's an absolute no for any reason, that there would be no point in wasting time in interviewing.

As for who'd apply if barred? If they don't realise, if they "forgot" or think enough time has passed, or just oblivious. It happens.

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I had to redo a health questionnaire as it had been that long that medical proforma was no longer valid. It's now been over a month since my interview. I have chased but I think as I'm within q8 months of the initial application, their in no rush

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