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What we really need is a national police force, all reading off the same page.............

Pete

We already have three national police forces...

Pete wrote:What we really need is a national police force, all reading off the same page.............

Pete

That depends on what page they all start reading off. Just look at the state of Police Scotland!

My FAC is up mid-March, so I emailed the office to ask about processing lead times.......they then gave me the 8 week/automatic section 7 spiel, at which point I decided to do it now without waiting for a reminder.
Then I got the note asking for the useage details, which I printed off my account with NRA and took in yesterday.
So, to sum up, I've actually applied 14 weeks early..............(there's a piece in the current NRA magazine where A. Mercer suggests applying 12 weeks in advance).
A photocopy of my existing FAC was accepted, and at present, they'll still only accept payment by cheque, but are working towards an online system.
Pete

Pete wrote:My FAC is up mid-March, so I emailed the office to ask about processing lead times.......they then gave me the 8 week/automatic section 7 spiel, at which point I decided to do it now without waiting for a reminder.
Then I got the note asking for the useage details, which I printed off my account with NRA and took in yesterday.
So, to sum up, I've actually applied 14 weeks early..............(there's a piece in the current NRA magazine where A. Mercer suggests applying 12 weeks in advance).
A photocopy of my existing FAC was accepted, and at present, they'll still only accept payment by cheque, but are working towards an online system.
Pete

my application was 5 months early ! I also worked hard to make sure the FEO had everything that was on the list and kept in touch all along ( there may have been a modicum of chivvying )my club was asked for attendance details,and my referees inc land were all contacted, my impression was of a dept making sure that every T was crossed and every i dotted, time was not an issue for them and I had several complaints from them re work load (they seem to have increased their workload for no good reason but maybe I'm missing something) my home visit was by phone and my FAC was on the doorstep a few days after expiry, I know of several people who have had at least 1 sec7 and possibly 2! from the same dept!
unfortunately I shoot with someone from Wiltshire his variations take minutes,mine take months! I am pretty sure we are not best served by our FLD's and I am yet to be convinced that the full cost recovery route is really the best way (although I suspect some FLD's are deliberately creating a cost overrun to "prove " their point, and I suspect the lack of resources is due to funds being redirected/not assigned)
Until all Police Firearms Depts work in line with the best performing Depts I see no reason why we should be forced to pay more money into a financial black hole!

kennyc wrote:I am yet to be convinced that the full cost recovery route is really the best way (although I suspect some FLD's are deliberately creating a cost overrun to "prove " their point, and I suspect the lack of resources is due to funds being redirected/not assigned)
Until all Police Firearms Depts work in line with the best performing Depts I see no reason why we should be forced to pay more money into a financial black hole!

"Deliberately creating a cost overrun" is the last thing that is happening. It is simply a matter of there is too much work for too few people to keep on top of effectively. Firearms licensing is not the only area to suffer. Unfortunately, the public aren't really aware of the scale of the cuts that have happened and those that are still to come!

My own force, Kent, has already had its budget slashed by 20% since 2010. We have lost 500 Constables and 1000 support staff. But, that work that was being done by them hasn't gone away, all you have is less people trying to do so much more. And when the PCC and Chief sit down to decide where the budget is to be spent, how high up that chain do you reckon firearms licensing is? Couple with the plans to have to cut the budget by another £61 million by 2019, it's not looking good at all.

And you think that renewals/grants/variations even come close to paying for it? No way. I've just had my cheque for £65 for coterminous renewal of FAC and SGC cashed. At the same time I've just received my temporary permits under s7. Considering all of the details of a s7 permit have to be entered manually, checked, approved then sent out, my 65 quid is probably used up already. The police will now be "out of pocket" renewing my certificates.

There are 28000 certificates in Kent. A renewal of each (forgetting discounts for coterminous etc) will generate £1.4 million over the five years of validity. On average, 107 certificates need to be renewed every week, generating just over five grand. How many staff do you get for five grand a week? Not many. Granted, fag packet economics, but you get the idea.

When they charge the Friday night drunks for the police time they waste, then I will accept the argument for full cost.

I pay for the police in my taxes, so it is reasonable that I ask them to do something for me once every five years.

Hrun wrote:When they charge the Friday night drunks for the police time they waste, then I will accept the argument for full cost.

I pay for the police in my taxes, so it is reasonable that I ask them to do something for me once every five years.

Churlish and entitled...

You miss the point.

Sim G wrote:

Hrun wrote:When they charge the Friday night drunks for the police time they waste, then I will accept the argument for full cost.

I pay for the police in my taxes, so it is reasonable that I ask them to do something for me once every five years.

Churlish and entitled...

You miss the point.

If you say so. I am happy to have a different view. I pay a lot into society for services I do not use and to support people who need support (and probably some who do not). Let me keep my money and I will happily pay by the hour for the services I use.. I am sure I will be better off.

80% of public spending is utilised by 20% of the population so don't presume you're anything special in how much you pay "in", with how much you get "out". The majority of this board are probably in the same boat....

But given the mechanism of our society, that's not how it works. But perhaps you've missed the point on that as well?

At the minute were awash with horror stories of how long this is taking or that is taking, likewise there are still those having work done by various departments up and down the country in what seems like record times. And one thing thing not often mentioned is when there are those who manage to jump the queue by using some story or other, "Oh I've paid for a weeks boar shooting in Poland and need my tickets" bollox.

The fact is, we're unprecedented in the level of work and lack of resources in the police as a whole and in firearms licensing in particular. Now the truth of the matter is, if your renewals are in on time to be granted temp permits, with some planning, your sport is curtailed very little indeed. Apart from buying a shotgun I've done a deal on, that's my only disadvantage. I have enough primers and enough rimfire ammo to see me at least 9 months, comfortably beyond with CF...

There is no end in sight with this we're going to have to work more efficiently with firearms departments.