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

Hi all,

On the 11/04/17 (with tracking) I sent off my shotgun renewal application and in it I declared a medical condition, no big deal.... Then a day or two ago I received a letter dated the 10/04/17 (RM dated 12/04/17) from my local police force suggesting that I should consider applying for my renewal of any licences sooner rather than later due to long delays in application processing. Okay no big deal still as I'd sent my application off on the 11/04/17 and already knew of the delays hence I sent it off early

Reading further however to my utter disbelief the letter read:

"X police force will no longer request, or pay for the costs for, medical reports....."
"Therefore if you have a relevant medical condition, we will expect you to obtain a medical report from you GP outlining the condition...."
"The original report signed by the doctor must be included with your renewal application"

aaarggh No mention of this was made in the application form or on the website on the application forms page! I even re-downloaded the form to see if it had been amended over night or something but no it's still the same.

I can't believe the incompetence of people/organisations sometimes, if this is a new policy relating to the renewal of a certificate then why the F'ing hell doesn't it mention this in the form!

Anyway rant aside, is there anything you lovely people can suggest I do? I figure I will just have to approach my GP and do as the letter asks? I just wanted to ask more experienced/informed people their opinions as I'm seriously racked off that I followed the instructions on the form to the proverbial letter and now they tell me I've got to jump through extra hoops for no other reason of than their own idiocy . Ideally as they have made this plonkerous mistake I want them to sort it out but I don't see that happening!

Thanks any and all!

does your condition impact your ability to maintain the security and act safely with your firearms? is it a condition that was there from a previous licence?
surely the police have to decide if your conditon requires more investigation , and ask for this, rather than you going off to the GP straigfht away, paying for it etc, without even knowing if it is relevant

I'd say do nothing, leave it as is, as you have already mailed it, and see what they come back with and not worry about it until then

If your medical condition is one of those listed as examples on the renewal/application form notes then the police may request you obtain a letter from your GP giving details. If not then the police should, if they don't hear from the GP, assume there's nothing to worry about and process your renewal as normal.

Note I said "should" unfortunately since the BMA decided not to honour their original agreement it's all became a big mess with GPs charging anything from £0 to £150 for a simple letter.

Is it written in legislation that there has to be a medical report that has to be paid for by the applicant? if not then how can it be enforced?
Firearms licencing are keen to spew verbatim sections which they like so surely the applicant can bring up articles which dont exist as law/legislation.
I have not read the full legislation so could be talking out of my arse

There was a change to the guidance, it previously put the responsibility onto the police for payment if they decided a medical report was required, now it's unclear at best. For a normal application or renewal all you need do is provide your GPs name & address.

If however you have a medical condition within the criteria laid out in the application/renewal notes and the police decide they want a report from your GP they will now insist that you pay for it.

https://basc.org.uk/blog/press-releases ... dical-fee/

There's also a factsheet here, https://basc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/ ... -sheet.pdf

Guidance is guidance surely and not binding in any way and certainly not law.
Its akin to issuing guidance stating that anyone with the name Smith should deposit 100 quid a month into account number 12345678
Clear as mud is the firearms situation at the moment

When this first came out there wasn't any specific guidance as to what constituted a relevant medical condition. I had high blood pressure and I asked my doctor if I ought to mention it. She said yes and I added it to the info on my renewal. I didn't want some sort of foul up for failure to disclose information some time down the pipe. Nothing came of it and the renewal was granted.

Since then I've radically changed my lifestyle, quit smoking, more exercise, less stress, eating healthy etc. etc. and my blood pressure fell to normal, better than normal in fact. I've not had cause to see the doc and so as far as she knows it's still something to be monitored - until I need to see her again. Anyhow, since then I've had a variation and this time around the guidance was more specific. I put 'no' in the medical section this time and nothing was said and it went through just fine - late obviously, I'm in a TVP area, but no quibbles on the medical side.

So I'd suggest seeing if the guidance considers whatever ails thee is worthy of mentioning. If not then don't. No need to volunteer anything unless the condition is something that could impact on safety.

Basic list is,

What medical conditions must be declared?
Relevant medical conditions are:

•
Acute Stress Reaction or an acute reaction to the stress caused by trauma
•
Suicidal thoughts or self harm
•
Depression or anxiety
•
Dementia
•
Mania, bipolar disorder or a psychotic illness
•
A personality disorder
•
A neurological condition: for example, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s
diseases, or epilepsy
•
Alcohol or drug abuse
•
Any other mental or physical condition which might affect your safe possession of firearms
or shotguns

"Alcohol or drug abuse" :)

What? Like putting water in my whiskey and bogarting that joint?