Durham FAC renewal time

[Polchraine]

The Chief Constable AND the PCC both ignored my formal complaint and failed to even acknowledge it!

Wait until the next PCC elections and then go to the press. Give them basic details that you complained to the PCC regarding the failure of the CC to acknowledge and deal with a complaint regarding the failure of a department (no mention of firearms licencing) and that following the formal complaint the PCC did not acknowledge receipt even though you have proof and has not investigated. Get them to put it on the front page asking "why are we paying for incompetence?"

[Polchraine]

For once I seem to have 'lucked out', as the Americans say.
My certificate was due to expire in April 2020 but I took the offer in 2019 to renew my FAC and SGC earlier to help TVP stagger their administrative plight. I was skeptical that it would make any difference but there were rumblings of expecting my GP to provide some sort of a health passport and an expensive fee to boot in yet another pointless wheeze.

Given that TVP's firearm dept website specifically said (2020) they weren't taking any more new certificate applications (leading me to suspect that a surge of applications will wipe out any good that early renewals might have made) I'm glad to have dodged that sh1tstorm.

It's basic deta entry and administration of a pretty damn small section of a pretty damn small section of the population across the UK. You'd think it'd be easy to run smooth as clockwork.

Various suggestions were put to the Home Office regarding the hump that occurs in x5 and x0 years including; giving long term holders 6, 7, 8 year certificates, in the next cycle, or even a 1, 2, 3 year extension to their existing and longer term considering long term holders to get 10 year certificates (once past 20 or 25 years). They were ignored and yet again complaints about work loads! Although I suppose TVP did something by giving you a -1 year negative extension option which would have a similar effect. If that could be done, then why not the other way?

[phaedra1106]

I just had a phone call from Durham Firearms.
They blame Covid for the delay and will be issuing a temporary certificate.

Absolute b@ll@cks!

They had massive delays in December 2019, that's 3 months before Covid began to have any effect on their performance.

Cleveland, who's area has a higher Covid infection rate, are still processing renewals in 2-4 weeks.

[Blackstuff]

I just had a phone call from Durham Firearms.
They blame Covid for the delay and will be issuing a temporary certificate.

Well its good that you won't have to pay to store them but its my understanding that you can't actually use your guns when held on the S7 permit?

Northumbria, North Yorkshire and Cumbria are all turning their renewals around in the standard 8 week/lead up to expiry and I'm pretty sure they have Covid there as well!

FYI I had immediate email acknowledgements to both the complaint I sent to the PCC and the complaints department. I got a further email from the complaints department yesterday to say they've passed it onto the head of firearms, so rather than just being ignored I think i'm going to get the run around As its gone to the head of firearms that will mean i'll either be getting my certificate sharpish, or some time in 2022 if im lucky

[Sim G]

but its my understanding that you can't actually use your guns when held on the S7 permit?

Yes you can unless the conditions of the permit state that you can’t.

[Lever357]

but its my understanding that you can't actually use your guns when held on the S7 permit?

Yes you can unless the conditions of the permit state that you can’t.

My friend went through all this before Covid - 8 week extension letter allows you to use the firearms, but when he queried this with FEO was told could only use them in the issuing forces area, (so couldn't go stalking in another force area for example) and then when he got a section 7 permit it explicitly stated: "to hold but not use the firearms". Fortunately, his new FAC arrived a week later.

[Blackstuff]

but its my understanding that you can't actually use your guns when held on the S7 permit?

Yes you can unless the conditions of the permit state that you can’t.

I'll make sure to mention that I need to use them for the start of the comp season in April/May then and hopefully I won't get the restriction. Might be a bit lively shooting whole PSG matches with my O/U!

[dodgyrog]

S7 permits for firearms and for shotguns arrived today
Seems to me they could just as easily sent the full FAC and SGC

[IainWR]

My friend went through all this before Covid - 8 week extension letter allows you to use the firearms, but when he queried this with FEO was told could only use them in the issuing forces area, (so couldn't go stalking in another force area for example) ...

Free advice from the NRA. That's bo...cks. The 8-week extension is in primary legislation. It extends your Certificate as issued. The police have no authority (or responsibility, so if they tell you its been extended that's being nice) over the the extension.

[Blackstuff]

My S7 permit arrived today and has conditions identical to my FAC so fine to possess and use them as before, just can't buy any ammo or new guns.

Slight issue in that there's a sound mod on there which was handed in with the OWA confiscation and a shotgun and two other items missing from it

Email sent for a new one straight away!