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

BASC challenges police spot checks.

The UK's largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), has challenged a North Wales Police plan to carry out spot checks on legally held firearms and ammunition in breach of Government guidelines and without consulting stakeholders.
The operation is due to start on 3rd December in South Gwynedd and will involve uniformed officers conducting unannounced checks on firearms storage and security.

BASC's objections include:
1) A uniformed police presence could compromise firearms security by announcing the presence of firearms in a home.
2) The police do not have automatic legal powers of entry to inspect firearms security.
3) The spot checks go against Home Office guidance, which states that home visits should be arranged by prior appointment at a mutually convenient time.

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TW

Well done BASC - although...

BASC wrote:We are advising members that they do not have to give police officers access to their home for the inspection of security unless the police are acting to protect life and property under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, they have a magistrates' warrant, a revocation letter has been served or they intend to seize a firearm used in a crime.

Am I alone in thinking that they'll probably just go to the mags, get a blanket warrant and then bill all of North Wales' FAC holders for the legal costs, with the implicit threat of harassment if people don't cough up?

Obviously the cuts can't be that bad if they can find bobbies to do that work. All the serious crimes must be solved and they have time on their hands to be harrasing innocent and law abiding citizens.

And then they wonder why people have lessening respect for the uniform.

'And then they wonder why people have lessening respect for the uniform.'
Lessening - none more like!!!

When they turn up to inspect first ask if they have a warrant and if not close the door after handing them a copy of the home office guidelines and telling them to make an appointment. The downside to that however could/might be the next time the firearms holder puts in for a new gun or a change to their FAC, it might take a lot longer than expected because they start nitpicking.

Over here if cops turned up like this they'd be laughed off the property and sued for trespass.

Blu

Firearm Certificate holders are good law abiding citizens who are of sound mind and temperate habits, they must be, otherwise the Police would not issue them FACs.

Why then do they feel the need to harass good people?

25Pdr,

Firearm Certificate holders are good law abiding citizens who are of sound mind and temperate habits, they must be, otherwise the Police would not issue them FACs.

Well maybe at the time off issue they are but guys like Hamilton and Bird spring to mind, but I do take your point.

Blu

I would follow Blu's suggestion and then immediately afterwards get one of my guns, place it in the appropriate case, walk out of the house and drive to the nearest gun smith. If they were to try and stop me for doing nothing illegal I would complain about harassment.

Indeed. I hope our Welsh members tell them where they can stick that one!