CaptC Posted January 20 Report Share Posted January 20 4 hours ago, Vince Green said: It's already been happening these past two or three years. Have you tried to sell any guns recently? It's not just about guns though. Personal finances are being squeezed from every direction and expensive hobbies are the first thing you look at (or your wife looks at for you!) when cutbacks are needed. Just announced that both SGC and Firearm certificates will double in price this year. The result of the enquiry into the Plymouth shootings. I hope they spend the extra money on more care for people with mental health issues. It could save a lot of lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 13 hours ago, CaptC said: Just announced that both SGC and Firearm certificates will double in price this year. The result of the enquiry into the Plymouth shootings. I hope they spend the extra money on more care for people with mental health issues. It could save a lot of lives. The Plymouth shooting enquiry will likely be a cover up and throw Devon and Cornwall firearms licencing under the bus to protect social services and the education system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 BASC is seeking assurances from every Police and Crime Commissioner in England and Wales that funds raised from increased firearms licensing fees will be used to resource their firearms licensing departments. BASC has contacted all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) following the government’s decision last week to significantly increase firearms licensing fees. BASC’s executive director of communications and public affairs, Christopher Graffius, said: “The government’s justification for the increase is that the extra funds raised will go to support improvements in the work of firearms licensing departments, although they have no powers to ensure that this is what happens. “We have written to the officials responsible for setting the policing budget for their forces to seek their assurance that all funds raised from firearms licensing fees will be assigned to resourcing their firearms licensing departments.” https://basc.org.uk/pccs-must-use-firearms-licensing-fees-to-improve-service-says-basc/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Well done BASC, I too hope the money is used to improve what is in most cases a thoroughly unacceptable service with old excuses as to why it cannot be made to work. It seemed to work pretty well pre the covid farce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 3 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Well done BASC, I too hope the money is used to improve what is in most cases a thoroughly unacceptable service with old excuses as to why it cannot be made to work. It seemed to work pretty well pre the covid farce. Thank you. We have also asked forces if they have produced their Strategic Demand Assessment (SDA) to ensure that their firearms licensing function is adequately resourced, and if so, when it will be published. This is a recommendation in the 2023 College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice, and we are holding police forces to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmaxphil Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 Well done, they need to be on a much more professional footing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 7 minutes ago, vmaxphil said: Well done, they need to be on a much more professional footing That is currently certainly not the case, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 It will be interesting ( and telling ) to see how this pans out, but experience means I remain sceptical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 My tickets expire end of March but the police officer dealing with mine was wanting it done now , so i have all mine done and hopefully when he's back on duty it will be posted out . Mine was £70 but i got a letter today saying that after the 4th of February it was going up to £160 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil Posted Saturday at 12:49 Report Share Posted Saturday at 12:49 On 21/01/2025 at 13:23, Conor O'Gorman said: BASC is seeking assurances from every Police and Crime Commissioner in England and Wales that funds raised from increased firearms licensing fees will be used to resource their firearms licensing departments. BASC has contacted all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) following the government’s decision last week to significantly increase firearms licensing fees. BASC’s executive director of communications and public affairs, Christopher Graffius, said: “The government’s justification for the increase is that the extra funds raised will go to support improvements in the work of firearms licensing departments, although they have no powers to ensure that this is what happens. “We have written to the officials responsible for setting the policing budget for their forces to seek their assurance that all funds raised from firearms licensing fees will be assigned to resourcing their firearms licensing departments.” https://basc.org.uk/pccs-must-use-firearms-licensing-fees-to-improve-service-says-basc/ Cheers Conor Can BASC also spare a thought for the RFD certificate holders out there. A rise from £200.00 to £466.00 and STILL only valid for 3 years. It has been my livlihood for 40 years this year and will obviously pay the new fee when my registration comes up for renewal. However I make the point that renewing an RFD certificate takes absolutely no longer than renewing a shotgun certificate so how is the new cost justified? Also why was the registration period not extended to 5 years in line with the section 1 and 2 certificates when they were extended. I would have not minded so much if the new fee was to include a 5 year certificate but this a **** take. I have emailed my PCC and his response wa prompt and helpful I must say. But I'm not expecting any changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted Saturday at 20:03 Report Share Posted Saturday at 20:03 (edited) 7 hours ago, Fil said: Cheers Conor Can BASC also spare a thought for the RFD certificate holders out there. A rise from £200.00 to £466.00 and STILL only valid for 3 years. It has been my livlihood for 40 years this year and will obviously pay the new fee when my registration comes up for renewal. However I make the point that renewing an RFD certificate takes absolutely no longer than renewing a shotgun certificate so how is the new cost justified? Also why was the registration period not extended to 5 years in line with the section 1 and 2 certificates when they were extended. I would have not minded so much if the new fee was to include a 5 year certificate but this a **** take. I have emailed my PCC and his response wa prompt and helpful I must say. But I'm not expecting any changes. Yes, I agree and I have highlighted this with the firearms and political team for their ongoing lobbying and discussions and there will be an update from me in next week's Shooting Times on the fees hike including that the highest amount in absolute terms is the proposed increase from £200 to £466 for firearms dealer registrations which will be required every three years, that many RFDs are sole traders, and that this will hit them particularly hard. Please do forward the response from your PCC to politics@basc.org.uk Edited Saturday at 20:04 by Conor O'Gorman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil Posted Sunday at 17:54 Report Share Posted Sunday at 17:54 21 hours ago, Conor O'Gorman said: Yes, I agree and I have highlighted this with the firearms and political team for their ongoing lobbying and discussions and there will be an update from me in next week's Shooting Times on the fees hike including that the highest amount in absolute terms is the proposed increase from £200 to £466 for firearms dealer registrations which will be required every three years, that many RFDs are sole traders, and that this will hit them particularly hard. Please do forward the response from your PCC to politics@basc.org.uk Big thanks! I am a sole trader and it is one more thing to add to the never ending amount of costs just to keep trading\working. Business insurance has rapidly crept up. Alarm security has gone up £15.00 over the last 3 years to £70.00 a month. This just takes the biscuit. I will forward the response. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted Sunday at 19:25 Report Share Posted Sunday at 19:25 1 hour ago, Fil said: Big thanks! I am a sole trader and it is one more thing to add to the never ending amount of costs just to keep trading\working. Business insurance has rapidly crept up. Alarm security has gone up £15.00 over the last 3 years to £70.00 a month. This just takes the biscuit. I will forward the response. Cheers. Thanks, also there will be an article about fees in the next issue of Sporting Gun again mentioning the impact on RFDs, and soaring insurance and general business costs, that could be straw that breaks the back for some longstanding gunmakers already considering retirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted Sunday at 20:07 Report Share Posted Sunday at 20:07 (edited) License fees were discussed during our final syndicate day yesterday. The general consensus was that none of us would be packing in shooting, and that this would probably just effect those who were toying with the idea of packing in anyhow, RFD’s contemplating retirement and those casual shooters who only owned one gun and could take or leave shooting. Those with a passion for shooting and whose way of life it is wouldn’t even contemplate stopping. A point to remember is that once licensing authorities are in receipt of ‘full cost recovery’ they have absolutely no excuse for a shoddy service. They will very shortly have the money to recruit and train more staff via increased license fees via ‘full cost recovery’. If that money is syphoned off for other costs then that is now their problem; they are being paid the full cost of implementing a service which is of no benefit to the shooter but created entirely and crucially for the safety of the general public. Edited Sunday at 20:08 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted Sunday at 20:10 Report Share Posted Sunday at 20:10 They have "No excuse for a shoddy service" NOW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted Sunday at 20:20 Report Share Posted Sunday at 20:20 7 minutes ago, Scully said: A point to remember is that once licensing authorities are in receipt of ‘full cost recovery’ they have absolutely no excuse for a shoddy service. Yes... but is it likely to go up year on year with the rate of Inflation plus a bit to cover wage increases and rising Admin costs.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted Sunday at 20:44 Report Share Posted Sunday at 20:44 33 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: They have "No excuse for a shoddy service" NOW. Well they’re making plenty of excuses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted Sunday at 20:45 Report Share Posted Sunday at 20:45 Just now, Scully said: Well they’re making plenty of excuses. None of which are acceptable or believable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted Sunday at 20:48 Report Share Posted Sunday at 20:48 24 minutes ago, 8 shot said: Yes... but is it likely to go up year on year with the rate of Inflation plus a bit to cover wage increases and rising Admin costs.. Everything else goes up by the same means year on year……food, fuel etc etc, and those costs are passed on to the end user. It was ever thus. Even more reason to expect a good service. 3 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: None of which are acceptable or believable. Indeed. Now they’ll have none whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted Sunday at 20:56 Report Share Posted Sunday at 20:56 Well I hope things improve, but I am ready to be disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted Monday at 08:01 Report Share Posted Monday at 08:01 (edited) It would help if they actually worked at the offices some of ours work from home i had put in for a variation for a new moderator i phoned up the one day to see if how variation was going the lady on the phone said hang on i will see i waited a couple of minutes she then came back and said i have tried to get In touch but i am working from home he must be out of the office well if she was in the office she would have been able to see if anyone was in Edited Monday at 08:02 by Rim Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil Posted Monday at 16:02 Report Share Posted Monday at 16:02 19 hours ago, Scully said: License fees were discussed during our final syndicate day yesterday. The general consensus was that none of us would be packing in shooting, and that this would probably just effect those who were toying with the idea of packing in anyhow, RFD’s contemplating retirement and those casual shooters who only owned one gun and could take or leave shooting. Those with a passion for shooting and whose way of life it is wouldn’t even contemplate stopping. A point to remember is that once licensing authorities are in receipt of ‘full cost recovery’ they have absolutely no excuse for a shoddy service. They will very shortly have the money to recruit and train more staff via increased license fees via ‘full cost recovery’. If that money is syphoned off for other costs then that is now their problem; they are being paid the full cost of implementing a service which is of no benefit to the shooter but created entirely and crucially for the safety of the general public. Spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conor O'Gorman Posted Monday at 19:06 Report Share Posted Monday at 19:06 BASC has put together a short survey to gather our experiences of the renewal and/or grant application process with our local police force. Click the link below to take part. https://basc.org.uk/licensing-survey/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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