Warning to licence holders

[starlight32]

Had a call form my FEO last night asking questions about a previous gun transfer I had made. Basically the gun I sold the Firearms dept had no record of me owning in the first place. Amazed as I was as I religiously stick to the rule of keeping a copy of the notification form together with the recorded delivery slip, which I always send off promptly after purchase or transfer.

 

After some investigation I checked with the royal mail tracking system and the posting was duly signed for by the firearms dept two days after I had sent in the form which was still four days with-in the seven day notice period.

 

I used to ring up to confirm reciept of delivery but gave up on this ages ago as I rarely got a response.

The notification slip has obviously gone missing at the police end and I wonder what the stance could be if you had not the relevent proof of posting etc?

 

The whole system I feel is flawed, as I have always been of the opinion that is too many error traps to fall into with through no fault of your own.

 

 

Regards starlight32

Edited February 27, 2008 by starlight32

[LEFTY478]

The Surrey Plod (my mob) actually quite good on this one. They allow e-mail'd transfer notification which makes life much easier. All of the notifications that I have made, have been sent directly to the FLO's office and cc'd to my FEO. I've always attached a Delivery/Read report with the e-mail and ask for a confirmation reply, which takes them literally seconds. All sent and received mail from FLO is kept in dedicated folder on work and home pc.

[webber]

Many years ago I had a knock on the door, it was the FEO, whom I recognised.

 

He enquired if I still owned a particular Beretta. I told him that I didnt, and that I had part exchanged it at my favourite gun shop.

 

The problem was that the police reckoned that the shop had informed them, but that I had not!

 

He was soon satisfied when I showed him a photocopy of the form and the recorder delivery slip.

 

So it does pay to keep these records safe.

 

webber

[Dunkield]

The 'system' isn't that clever.

According to the Police I had about 5 or 6 shotguns (I actually only have 2 now) so when then FEO came round we went through them all to put the record straight.

I had copies of all the transactions, apart from one, that I have made over the last 5 years.

They make out it is very unusual, but excatly the same thing happened last time

I will use recorded delivery for any future notifications I send in, as I only use normal post at the moment.

Having said all that, he didn't seem that bothered we just confirmed the serial numbers and that was that.

[Evil Elvis]

I have done all of mine via email, but i will be printing the e-mails out for storage later

[al4x]

I'd got a semi auto that was written on my ticket with the barrel number by a gunshop I might add and who sent all the details off, my first renewal the FEO spotted the error made a note to correct it, and come second renewal he spotted the error again. No agro at all i think they accept the system is full of errors and unless they think something naughty is going on they simply try and put them right. Unlike the concensus of opinion on here at times I don't think they are out to catch you out, they are just working with a very flawed system. E-mails with read receipts and asking for acknowledgement are the best way and if you use outlook express etc you can keep a record easily pretty much forever

[bob300w]

Starlight32; I am inclined to agree with you that the system is flawed and everyone is aware of it. I must admit to being somewhat puzzled by the request for notifications of transfers/sales etc. to be posted by registered mail, when they send my certificates ( items that should be posted securely) to me by normal post! Personally, I send in details by normal post, using the logic that if it is good enough for them etc..... Even more puzzling is that if you sell a shotgun to another certificate holder, you both have to notify Police HQ, but if you sell a rifle to another certificate holder, only the seller has to notify HQ. This means that there is tighter legislation for a No.3 garden gun than for a .700 nitro express !

[Big_Sam]

It is set out in the Firearms Act that it must be sent recorded delivery:

 

33. - (1) This section applies where in Great Britain-

 

(a) any firearm to which section 1 of the 1968 Act applies is

sold, let on hire, lent or given;

( a shot gun is sold, let on hire or given, or lent for a period of

more than 72 hours.

 

 

(2) Any party to a transfer to which this section applies who is the

holder of a firearm or shot gun certificate or, as the case may be, a

visitor's firearm or shot gun permit which relates to the firearm in

question shall within seven days of the transfer give notice to the

chief officer of police who granted his certificate or permit.

 

(3) A notice required by subsection (2) above shall-

 

(a) contain a description of the firearm in question (giving its

identification number if any); and

( state the nature of the transaction and the name and address

of the other party;

and any such notice shall be sent by registered post or the recorded

delivery service.

 

(4) A failure by a party to a transaction to which this section applies to

give the notice required by this section shall be an offence.

 

Can't argue with that.

[Mungler]

Fax transmission and keep the delivery report.

 

Easy peasy.

[bob300w]

Mungler; Does Chelmsford accept fax and email notices of transactions? Would make life easier if they do.

[LEFTY478]

Just pop down to the local Lodge and ask the Worshipful Master to pass on the details to the Lodge's Tyler or Deacon, one of whom will be the Chief Rosser.

 

Just rember to roll up your left trouser leg...

[starlight32]

But what more can we do, I have sent it by recorded signed for, kept a copy of the transaction note and downloaded copy of the recieved signature at police headquarters.

 

I am not at present under any sort question form the FEO (Thats unless he calls back today with something else about it) as I have proved my responsibilities as being carried out-I just think as mentioned in an earlier post they just correct an already flawed system.

[webber]

I would not worry too much.

 

The postal system is not perfect and neither is the police system. You can prove that you discharged your duties as far as reasonably practical, so I genuinely believe that you have no need to worry at all.

 

webber

[al4x]

you could of course wait till sunday and call BASC to check

[Dunkield]

I can't see it is that important, if you don't even need a valid FAC or SGC to hold rifles and shotguns these days :blink:

[Pushkin]

al4x Posted Today, 01:19 PM

 

you could of course wait till sunday and call BASC to check

 

 

Wickedddddddddd :blink:

 

Pushkin

[Spaniel]

I always wondered how you would know if the police were aware of what guns you had..

I always do the normal paperwork and send it Registered to the Police in Bristol, but thats about it.

I dont have any reply back saying that they are aware of what you are holding etc, so how do you know if they have not lost the paperwork etc...

 

Anyway I had the Fire Arms Officer around on Monday evening, done is inspection and had a look at my guns to check Sno etc, and said there were no problems with re-issuing my SGL again......yyyiiipppppeeeeee another 5 years of shooting for me :blink:

[Mungler]

Mungler; Does Chelmsford accept fax and email notices of transactions? Would make life easier if they do.

 

 

Yarse - they do both fax and email, but there are legal problems with regard to email and proving receipt.

 

There is plenty of legal authority on faxes in that if you fax it and keep the report you are home and dry.

 

Fax all day long for me.

[highseas]

when my flo came around he said i had 5 guns but i only had 2 so we had a look in the safe to prove me right and lo and behold sbs and semi-outo ahh well he said it happens and this is from the "law"

[Lord Geordie]

Had a call form my FEO last night asking questions about a previous gun transfer I had made. Basically the gun I sold the Firearms dept had no record of me owning in the first place. Amazed as I was as I religiously stick to the rule of keeping a copy of the notification form together with the recorded delivery slip, which I always send off promptly after purchase or transfer.

 

After some investigation I checked with the royal mail tracking system and the posting was duly signed for by the firearms dept two days after I had sent in the form which was still four days with-in the seven day notice period.

 

I used to ring up to confirm reciept of delivery but gave up on this ages ago as I rarely got a response.

The notification slip has obviously gone missing at the police end and I wonder what the stance could be if you had not the relevent proof of posting etc?

 

The whole system I feel is flawed, as I have always been of the opinion that is too many error traps to fall into with through no fault of your own.

 

 

Regards starlight32

 

 

 

I was shocked to learn MY firearms office had ME down for 3 shotguns I sold last year and again I keep records including the Recorded delivery slips in a file.

 

All were signed for within 3 days of sending MAXIMUM and I write on each (received)

 

All were received by and signed for by the office but they obviously mishandled 3 of the cases.

 

Eventually It was all settled with them searching their computer files and of course I keep the persons names I sold to but NOT their SGC numbers for security reasons.

 

Come the finish they got it sorted but it's worrying to learn even when the paperwork arrives they can still make mistakes!

 

I can understand they must be inundated with transfer forms but thought they would have been a lot more professional than this considering the information they have enclosed in the documents! Not just MY details but some other poor bu99er who is involved!