CaptC Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 Just heard from a friend who I acted as a referee for his SGC renewal. Apparently Devon and Cornwall Firearms are now doing their caninet and gun checks by video call? Any other Firearms depts doing this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 i mostly got checked by a telephone call at renewal time.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Shot Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 (edited) It's a step in the right direction and a much better use of the limited resources. My FAC interview was done over the phone and IMO covered everything that we otherwise would have covered if the FEO was sat at my kitchen table for an hour only I didn't have to spend out on expensive biscuits and send the wife shopping for a few hours while the interview took place. How many more cabinets checks can be done in a day when you replace commuting an hour between each appointment with time sat at a desk checking off a list of quick 20 minute video calls. I'm sure some will be along shortly to say that it's worth it just so the FEO can take a quick sniff around the house and pick up on the recycling bag filled with beer cans outside the front door or the odd box of ammo misplaced outside of the locked cabinet but these are luxuries that most depts cannot afford at the time where backlogs of ancillary responsibilities like cabinet checks can extend out past 2-3 years. These are issues that can be picked up at renewal every 5 years. Last FEO that came out spent 10 minutes checking serial numbers against a tick sheet and then a further hour and 20 minutes talking about shooting. Lovely chap and I'd have him round again anytime but not a good use of expensive FEO time. Edited November 1 by Poor Shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 1 hour ago, Poor Shot said: It's a step in the right direction and a much better use of the limited resources. My FAC interview was done over the phone and IMO covered everything that we otherwise would have covered if the FEO was sat at my kitchen table for an hour only I didn't have to spend out on expensive biscuits and send the wife shopping for a few hours while the interview took place. How many more cabinets checks can be done in a day when you replace commuting an hour between each appointment with time sat at a desk checking off a list of quick 20 minute video calls. I'm sure some will be along shortly to say that it's worth it just so the FEO can take a quick sniff around the house and pick up on the recycling bag filled with beer cans outside the front door or the odd box of ammo misplaced outside of the locked cabinet but these are luxuries that most depts cannot afford at the time where backlogs of ancillary responsibilities like cabinet checks can extend out past 2-3 years. These are issues that can be picked up at renewal every 5 years. Last FEO that came out spent 10 minutes checking serial numbers against a tick sheet and then a further hour and 20 minutes talking about shooting. Lovely chap and I'd have him round again anytime but not a good use of expensive FEO time. arnt you lucky..........when they cam to my gaff they usually supped mug of tea and ate all my bloody hob-knobs..............( what is it with coppers and hob-knobs ) eh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Shot Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 3 minutes ago, ditchman said: arnt you lucky..........when they cam to my gaff they usually supped mug of tea and ate all my bloody hob-knobs..............( what is it with coppers and hob-knobs ) eh I wasn't too worried about the biscuits. It was more the amount my would be able to spend in the couple hours that she would have been shopping. That could buy you an container load of custard creames. It's coffee or tap only in our house so they would have been a disappointed tea drinker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 Definitely the way forward far better use of time hopefully it works out for the best and they can get the waiting time down to a sensible level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 2 hours ago, Poor Shot said: It's a step in the right direction and a much better use of the limited resources. My FAC interview was done over the phone and IMO covered everything that we otherwise would have covered if the FEO was sat at my kitchen table for an hour only I didn't have to spend out on expensive biscuits and send the wife shopping for a few hours while the interview took place. How many more cabinets checks can be done in a day when you replace commuting an hour between each appointment with time sat at a desk checking off a list of quick 20 minute video calls. I'm sure some will be along shortly to say that it's worth it just so the FEO can take a quick sniff around the house and pick up on the recycling bag filled with beer cans outside the front door or the odd box of ammo misplaced outside of the locked cabinet but these are luxuries that most depts cannot afford at the time where backlogs of ancillary responsibilities like cabinet checks can extend out past 2-3 years. These are issues that can be picked up at renewal every 5 years. Last FEO that came out spent 10 minutes checking serial numbers against a tick sheet and then a further hour and 20 minutes talking about shooting. Lovely chap and I'd have him round again anytime but not a good use of expensive FEO time. Why would you want to send your wife out for a few hours? Far better that she is there to give support to your application by showing what a happily married couple you are and that she supports your shooting way of life. And what is the obsession on PW about FEOs and biscuits? I just don’t get it. I take it you are joking about the beer cans and ammo left lying around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Shot Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 (edited) 9 minutes ago, London Best said: Why would you want to send your wife out for a few hours? Far better that she is there to give support to your application by showing what a happily married couple you are and that she supports your shooting way of life. And what is the obsession on PW about FEOs and biscuits? I just don’t get it. I take it you are joking about the beer cans and ammo left lying around? Mainly because she's got better things to do than hang around while two boring blokes talk guns and shooting. Last time round she spoke to the FAO and said she could not care less about shooting and that we both have our own things going on but she respects that the guns aren't to be bothered with under any circumstances. FEO was happy with that. The doting wife is a thing of the past and I'm glad that she's got just much going on in her own life as I do mine. The last bit regarding ammo was a reference to the article by Bill Harriman in the last BASC magazine in which a fellow got caught out on a home visit when an ammo box was misplaced during a home renewal inspection. Chap lost his certs I think. I'm also a non drinker so unless the FAO is concerned about the amount of coffee grounds in the food recycling hamper then I'm quite safe. An FAO who visited a while back did mention that he had started an investigation into a certificate holder when he noticed a few recycling bags filled with empty containers outside of his house. No idea on the biscuits thing. Bit of a recurring joke I think. Not one single member of firearms dept has ever accepted an offer of a drink while at my (very clean, tidy and organised) house. Edited November 1 by Poor Shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northerner Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 MY renewal at the beginning of the year with devon and cornwall was a video call. It felt a bit strange walking around showing the cabinet having to read out the serial numbers and such 🤣 Best to have a chair or something close to the cabinet to be able to put you phone down whilst doing it 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 53 minutes ago, London Best said: Why would you want to send your wife out for a few hours? Far better that she is there to give support to your application by showing what a happily married couple you are and that she supports your shooting way of life. And what is the obsession on PW about FEOs and biscuits? I just don’t get it. I take it you are joking about the beer cans and ammo left lying around? i take it your wife knows excactly what you spend on game shooting then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 4 hours ago, ditchman said: i take it your wife knows excactly what you spend on game shooting then Absolutely! About £7k worth booked so far this season. And she loves to accompany me on just about every day. No secrets with us. All money here is “ours”. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minky Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 7 hours ago, London Best said: Why would you want to send your wife out for a few hours? Far better that she is there to give support to your application by showing what a happily married couple you are and that she supports your shooting way of life. And what is the obsession on PW about FEOs and biscuits? I just don’t get it. I take it you are joking about the beer cans and ammo left lying around? The above is about right. Over the last 4 renewals no one has asked about security or been to look at or check guns or serial numbers. The main question is... is everything the same as last time.? There are no cups of tea or biscuits etc. They just come , go through the paperwork and get away. They don't seem to have any time for random chit chat. Minor points covered qbout the amount of ammunition bought and reloaded... certs will be in the post..... done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryle Posted November 2 Report Share Posted November 2 Ive not seen an FEO for over 10 years. Renewals have been done over the phone, if I remember right. Although resources are limited, I kinda would respect bieng scrutinised a little bit and have nothing to hide should my good lady be questioned about my character. The only slight niggle I've had with Cheshire Constabulary was a while back when they had two guns that I'd traded in still listed on my licence. I was told words to the effect of "Ah, sometimes when there's multiple transfers that are done in one go, one or two get missed" Other than that, its been pretty good from Cheshire in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted November 2 Report Share Posted November 2 Hi Hmmm, seems a thing of many parts - the number of Firearm Licencing Services and their machinations........ My most recent renewal (almost 2yrs ago that resulted in a formal complaint, but thats a another story), previous 'secuity arrangements' perfectly acceptable (20+yrs!), and suddenly become 'unacceptable' unless alarm fitted (no new firearms requested) or refusal will ensue! Then, though I made a formal statement (via email) that 'necessary' alarm had been fitted (we all know what a 'false statement' means within a firearms application/renewal), an appointment was made to duly check that it had been installed and working................ No change in circumstances, not in a 'difficult' area (HOG and Statutory Guidance), or any other record on Polis National Records (Subject Access Request, though Local Records withheld due to formal Complaint in progress). The complaint found in my favour, and seems the FEO '...does not cover my area...). L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dessyb Posted November 2 Report Share Posted November 2 not in derbys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted November 2 Report Share Posted November 2 1 hour ago, dessyb said: not in derbys My last renewal (Derbys) during covid was conducted over the telephone, and then the certificate was delivered by hand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone Posted November 3 Report Share Posted November 3 Feo phone call, week later ticket arrived ( Kent). Excellent service imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robden Posted November 4 Report Share Posted November 4 I sent the paperwork by email. Licence arrived a week or so later.......no visit or contact whatsoever. Cheshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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