Police and Crime Commissioners Elections of 2nd May

More News

From Alan Barrell, NGO Firearms Licensing Liaison Officer 

On 2^nd May we will have the opportunity to vote for the Police and Crime Commissioner, who will hold to account the Chief Constable of the area where we live. One burning issue in some areas is the diabolical performance in relation to firearms licensing.

Police and Crime Commissioners have a duty to ensure that Chief Constables are providing a good service and for holding them to account. We, the electorate, have an opportunity on 2^ndMay to elect the person who will carry out this particular role in the police force where we live.

At the moment we have about a dozen of the 41 police forces who grant licenses in the country providing a good service to the public and shooters with regard to firearms licensing. The others are all deficient in some way with some taking up to 2 years or even longer to deal with grant applications. Many of the 41 forces are taking in excess of the 16 weeks outlined by section 28(b) firearms act to carry out renewals, and some are way behind with their other responsibilities.

It is clear that some PCCs do not consider firearms licensing a priority despite their responsibility. Or, is it possible that some are personally anti firearms ownership and are therefore deliberately failing to properly fund licensing departments?

The NGO suggests that before you decide on the candidate who will get your vote, you ask each what their policy will be on firearms licensing if elected. You can find details of each candidate by searching online using your usual search engine: e.g. PCC candidates Cumbria shows the candidates as David Allen, Mike Johnson and Adrian Waite. Or visit https://choosemypcc.org.uk.

The website then gives the candidates’ contact details, enabling you to ask what they will do to ensure an efficient and timely service in the future. Their answers may well determine how you will vote on the day.