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I've only been scanning and saving everything FAC related for a couple of years, but just had an email requesting an old transfer form from before time that I have records for.

Are we legally obligated to keep all transfer/disposal forms?

I shouldn't imagine so....but I expect your force probably is for a considerable amount of time.

I bet they've been/ being audited and lost it!

No. You are only obliged to inform the police in writing, with seven days of the transfer/disposal. The method of how that “writing” takes place is not stipulated, just the delivery method. The Disposal Forms themselves actually state that you are not obliged to use them. So if you’re not obliged to use them, you’re not obliged to keep them.

If the police are satisfied that you did inform them because of removal from your certificate, frankly, it’s their problem, not yours.

Could be worse, I believe rfds are expected to keep their registers for 20 years. Used to be 5 years before the EU stuck it's part in!

Sussex allow notification by email

All sorted.

Beds & Herts accept an email, i use their std form less the word weapon that i changed to firearm.

Email is a great way to archive history I just drop them in a folder - Club Firearms.

The only problem with email is that just because you can can prove you sent it isn’t proof that they received it unless they have an auto reply set up and even that isn’t 100% depending on how the various email servers along the way are configured.

NPCC/College of Policing records retention recommendation is six years for most firearms licensing issues.

Some forces are hot on their records disposal procedures in general, because it cuts down the time spent on FOI requests.

If it is over six years ago that a force has a notification and are asking for copies, it is likely that they received the original notification, but have subsequently destroyed it.

Rockhopper wrote:The only problem with email is that just because you can can prove you sent it isn’t proof that they received it unless they have an auto reply set up and even that isn’t 100% depending on how the various email servers along the way are configured.

Believe it or not, with regards to the legislation governing notification, it matters not that the police prove they receive, it’s only for you to prove it was sent.