The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Makes you wonder when the national lead on firearms "licensing"(?) is a senior officer in one of the continuing worst police firearms certification departments in the country.

dromia wrote:Makes you wonder when the national lead on firearms "licensing"(?) is a senior officer in one of the continuing worst police firearms certification departments in the country.

Dave Orford AAC

Even their own staff tell us how bad their management is!

8 week extension letter received today
Nothing about my black powder licence

dodgyrog wrote:8 week extension letter received today
Nothing about my black powder licence

Pathetic service. They're simply not up to the task.

To be fair, Durham were at one time the most progressive, efficient and customer focused of all firearms depts. then came the Horden killings. Durham were utterly slated! Careers destroyed and organisational reputation destroyed. Couple the subsequent reaction of over zealous application of law and guidance, with the effects of austerity, no doubts has the force in an utter mucking fuddle.

It's not acceptable, but can be seen how it was arrived at.

I think they have had plenty of time to get over that and improve the running of the department responsible for licencing. It's down to whoever is managing the unit he/she is obviously not up to the job.

The police haven't recovered from the damage caused to policing with the fall out of the miners strike and Stephen Lawrence, and I reckon Durham will have a long way to go before the events of 2012 are not factored.

Sorry but I find that hard to believe I live 30 minutes drive from Durham. I actually live in Cleveland. Cleveland was a couple of years ago a nightmare to deal with. They employed a couple of civilian inquiry officers and the Guy in charge changed. Cleveland is now at the top of the league in dealing with certificates etc. It's nothing to do with miners strikes or Margaret Thatcher it's down to mismanagement. I am due for retirement I would love to have a go at putting it right arses would be kicked I tell you not. The police still recoiling from 2012 is bull s***.

Durham were a disaster before Horden as the police man selling guns before showed.

If firearms certification was working properly that should never have happened, they almost encouraged it.

I can't remember the exact turn of phrase but the judge basically called the then manager a liar.

They may have been somewhat more user friendly then but they were so sloppy in decisions, management and record keeping they were a disaster waiting to happen.

Hells teeth firearms licensing core business isn't difficult, it is basic admin and has been going on for years running a decent set up shouldn't be difficult other forces manage it even the tory robbing of resources over the past decade.

dromia wrote:
Hells teeth firearms licensing core business isn't difficult, it is basic admin and has been going on for years running a decent set up shouldn't be difficult other forces manage it even the tory robbing of resources over the past decade.

It is when they have to try and negate every risk so that when it does go awry, at every inquiry and proceeding it is shown as such. Despite that, reputation damage has far further reaching effects than on just the firearms dept. And for the relative few that the process is required for, those numbers don’t warrant the resources and the risk associated is huge.