permission letters

[oakey 57]

A lot of my permission ive had for decades and never had any trouble with the law asking for any letters (thats good as most of it is word of mouth)some of it ive never even met the land owner just the chap who drives tractor ive got his number on my phone if anyone challenges me . could this lead to trouble if the law were to get involved ? and how would the law know if that signature is the land owner or not in my experience if you know the land owner and say you have permission that has always been enough

[dave1372 83]

A lot of my permission ive had for decades and never had any trouble with the law asking for any letters (thats good as most of it is word of mouth)some of it ive never even met the land owner just the chap who drives tractor ive got his number on my phone if anyone challenges me . could this lead to trouble if the law were to get involved ? and how would the law know if that signature is the land owner or not in my experience if you know the land owner and say you have permission that has always been enough

 

Glad to hear you not had any run ins so far but these days word of mouth could be insufficient in the view of the police. For example what happens if the tractor guy has left and got a different number....could be difficult to explain if you get an awkward cop. Plus what happens if a landowner is on holiday abroad....it happens. Far easier to get permission in writing that way the landowner can't turn around and say that you never had permission or that you had permission ages ago but not now! If you have never met the owners of the lands and they are not willing to give permission in writing then that at least gives you the heads up you never really had permission in the first place.

[oakey 57]

I see the tractor driver at least once a week he's a good friend of mine also i know the keeper and all of the staff at the farm .What i'm trying to say is when did it become law that you had to have WRITTEN permission or is it something that plod has made up to make it harder for us to go about a perfectly legal past time also do they have permission to come onto the land

[clint 45]

I do not think this is law, maybe is best to have write consent with you. If farmer called at 2am by law, he be pissed with you. Always best to have show of evidence you legal.Just incase, have proof of ID, save embarrasment & time. Many people change home, some people in area see you, they not no who you are ,they call police . Rural area maybe crime around farm. Best they know you go also, to shoot , or whatever, call them 1st.If farmer alone or old, & see lamp it cud scare if not know it you, then police come also.

Edited October 25, 2010 by clint

[Terryorr 27]

When you apply for a Firearms Certificate you have to have written consent from 1 farmer. ( In Northern Ireland it used to be 3 farmers) but after you get your firearms certificate granted you can shoot on as many lands as you have permission on as long as the farmer (owner) gives you permission by word of mouth. The only time problems arise is when the farmer (owner) then turns around and tells the old bill ; I didn,t give him permission to shoot on my land, then you are in trouble. If you write out a contract that gives you permission and the farmer is happy to sign it then you know you are OK but if the farmer hims and has and and stutters you are better away OFF his land.

[dave1372 83]

I see the tractor driver at least once a week he's a good friend of mine also i know the keeper and all of the staff at the farm .What i'm trying to say is when did it become law that you had to have WRITTEN permission or is it something that plod has made up to make it harder for us to go about a perfectly legal past time also do they have permission to come onto the land

 

 

I can kinda see your point but the onus is really on your to prove to the police you have permission and if you are unwilling to get it put in writing then you can understand that you are making both their job more difficult and making things more awkward for yourself too. It isn't a requirement of law but more a case of being the respsonsible thing to do so that it makes everyones life easier (you, the landowner and the police).

 

I had one farmer that although he gave me verbal permission I was struggling to get written permission off....he was just old fashioned. So I did tell a white lie and told him that I had been stopped by the police and that my shooting partner who was with me that night was in the police and it was only for this reason he didn't get a phonecall at 2am as he showed them his warrant card ! The farmer signed the permission slip the same week,

Edited October 25, 2010 by dave1372