Police checks?

[fraggle101 28]

I'm thinking about getting FAC as iv got a couple of permissions and would like to be able to have the choice of gun.. Or even more powerful air rifle.. Or possibly a shotgun, I'd also like to do some target shooting at longer ranges..

So what are the checks that are made? I need to look into this more but thought I'd ask you guys that have been there & done it..

 

Thanks

[Sjt657 191]

Get rid of your name pic and from London wanting shotgun !!!!!

Only joking

[steve_7 10]

Sgc was a doddle, took about 12 weeks from application to cert in my hand

was told by my gamekeeper just to be honest about any crimes etc which i was , had a friend who was referee and gamekeeper to prove i had land to shoot on and the need to have a shotgun, feo interview last an hour and a half and missus had to be here and was question wether she was ok me getting a shotty, asking about our relationship,medical history, wasnt hard just boring lol...... all i would say is read your local police guidelines on firearms and follow there procedure as my feo and head office dissagreed on so many things, luckily i had a decent mentor who guided me through the process and all is well and cabinets accepted for fac once i apply in a years time....all the best steve

[charlie caller 3,654]

As above, be totally honest,about everything,even if you dont think it matters,IT DOES,ie if you got done for pissing against a wall in 1987 put it down, if you are applying for an fac, make sure you have land passed for your calibre ,and cast iron written authority to shoot, also it would benefit you, to get out shooting with an experienced fac user locally, who would vouch for you when you apply, you dont say if you have any experience so I will assume you dont,so your licensing region may well(and in my opinion,quite rightly) insist on a mentor,it sounds daunting at first,but at the end of the day,you are asking to be trusted with an instrument that was designed for one thing,to kill,and that is what they do, take it slowly one step at a time, good luck.

[fraggle101 28]

Thanks for that, iv no convictions and spent time in the army, I don't know if that would count for anything as it was a long time ago, was an instructor in the ATC too so spent a fair amount of time messing with weapons..

What do they check behind the scenes?

[paulus 26]

Thanks for that, iv no convictions and spent time in the army, I don't know if that would count for anything as it was a long time ago, was an instructor in the ATC too so spent a fair amount of time messing with weapons..

What do they check behind the scenes?

all the information you put on your application

[fraggle101 28]

Lol, right.. Of course..

[charlie caller 3,654]

By all means mention your military experience,but Im afraid it does not count for a deal where civilian ownership is concerned,you will be checked,rigorously,again quite rightly so,checks with special branch,all your background, to ensure you have no links to animal rights groups,neo nazi,ect,ect,if you are unsure about anything,even a speeding ticket, declare it,will you be applying for a shotgun or a rifle mate,be aware that the procedure for obtaining a sgc,is less hassle than an fac,you will still be subject to the same background checks,but you do not need specific checked land for a sgc,hope this helps mate.

[iana 25]

Definatley put any speeding convictions! When I had my interview with the FAO he had them all wrote down and had cross checked them with what I had put in my application.

[steve_7 10]

Thanks for that, iv no convictions and spent time in the army, I don't know if that would count for anything as it was a long time ago, was an instructor in the ATC too so spent a fair amount of time messing with weapons..

What do they check behind the scenes?

 

as already said they will dig up whatever past you have to not allow you an sgc/fac my sgc application was a complete farce and me telling them the law to get things done, like i said though i had a gamekeeper who knows his stuff pointing me in the right direction, would help if you intend to go out hunting to have permissions already set in place,

 

http://www.basc.org.uk/en/departments/firearms/certificate-forms-and-fees.cfm

 

go there and download a form and will give you an idea of what they want to know mate and if theres anything youre not sure of askaway on here.

im lucky as i didnt go for fac as im still proving myself to gamekeepers but feo said lands all aproved and as i have sgc there shouldnt be a problem at all, but im just learning the lay of the land,safe backstops, public bridleways etc all the best steve

[fraggle101 28]

Some great responses, thank you.. Ill have to check if thanks is cleared for anything more than SG, one of my perms is only 10 acres, and I wouldn't think anything more than .22 would be allowed, I know the owner has a SG.. But the vineyard next door is about 50-60 acres.. I'll have a chat with the manager there..

Thanks again for the info & advice.. It's very much appreciated.. Going to look up mentoring..

[steve_7 10]

End of the day mate you might find like me its an expensive route lolol, got air springer and pcp for places not suitable for anything else, now got a hushpower for places near to houses as thats where im concentrating at the minute, now after a semi and over n under ..... then will put in most likely for .17hmr or similar... seems theres a tool for each job and my toolbox is quiet empty :-) good luck

[charlie caller 3,654]

Some great responses, thank you.. Ill have to check if thanks is cleared for anything more than SG, one of my perms is only 10 acres, and I wouldn't think anything more than .22 would be allowed, I know the owner has a SG.. But the vineyard next door is about 50-60 acres.. I'll have a chat with the manager there..

Thanks again for the info & advice.. It's very much appreciated.. Going to look up mentoring..

Land does not need to be cleared for a sg,due to the limited range,however take into consideration, safe shooting and always be aware,and respectful of people living in close proximity,if you wish to find out if a specific peice of land is passed,ring your licensing dept,give them the name of the farm,and landowner,and they will have the ground on record if it is passed,and up to what calibre,mentoring is a condition (more recently) placed on people new to firearms,some people seem to think if they quote home office guidelines,they are quoting law and the police cant deviate from them, nothing could be further from the truth,the police are perfectly entitled to put whatever conditions they like on a persons fac,I feel that if a person has no experience of firearms, then it is quite reasonable for the police to expect that person to be accompanied by an experienced shooter,for a period of time,far better that in my opinion, than classroom based theory and tests,I am in no way trying to discourage you,but it may be better to get your sgc first,get some time out shooting,possibly, some more land,and then go for an fac when you can at least show you have a basic knowledge of safe shooting with a firearm,you can also have a chat with your feo, when he or she visits, about applying for an fac in the future and you should get some good advice,and you are showing that you are prepared to learn and move into firearms in a responsible manner,just a suggestion mate and as said not in any way trying to put you off,but I will bet next months wages that most guys on here had a sg first before moving onto fac,best of luck mate and keep the questions comming.

[PLEDGEY 496]

If you have no convictions, and you are mentally sound, there should be no problem. The SGC should be simple enough. As for the FAC they will want to know why you want whatever caliber you are after, where you are going to shoot said caliber and can you store the gun and ammo safely. If you can satisfiy the FAO that you DO need it, you HAVE got permission for land and you CAN store it safely then there shouldn't be any problem, oh yeah, and 2 referees.

[jamie mc 168]

If you have been taken in by police but no charge do you still have to put it on your shotgun certificate.?