NGO Gets Tough on Failing Police

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The National Gamekeepers' Organisation (NGO) is urging its members to complain about poorly performing police firearms licensing departments which often leave them in unlawful possession of their guns as a result of late renewal of certificates.

Research carried out by David Frost, author of the NGO's highly acclaimed book Sporting Shooting and the Law, established that last year a minimum of 13,286 shooters experienced late certificate renewals, usually leaving them in possession of guns without a valid certificate - an offence which can carry a minimum 5-year prison term. And that total came from just 7 of the UK's 52 police forces, 18 of which admitted to allowing the retention of guns without a valid certificate.

"It is completely unacceptable that some forces seem incapable of discharging their administrative duties in relation to firearms properly," said a spokesman for the NGO. "Other forces manage to renew all their certificates on time, so why can't the rest?"

In an article in the September issue of the NGO members' magazine, Keeping the Balance, the NGO's well-known Firearms Expert, George Wallace, urges members not to tolerate late renewal. He describes the all-too-common police response that, 'You don't need your certificate on time because we have received your application', as "Rubbish without any lawful foundation" and his article includes a proforma letter to help affected NGO members to complain to their Chief Constables.

"The shooting community is invariably well-behaved and reluctant to complain," said the NGO, "But poor service should not be tolerated. If all shooters demand their lawful right to an efficient licensing service, the more likely we are to get one."

The Deputy Chief Constable who leads for the Association of Chief Police Offciers (ACPO) on firearms licensing, Andy Marsh of Hampshire Police, has told the NGO he shares their view that poor performance by some licensing departments needs urgent correction.

The NGO hopes its campaign will draw wider attention to the scale of the problem and the need to sort it out.