The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

25Pdr wrote:A while back my FEO (An Ex Firearms Cop and a great person) paid me a visit bringing along a young uniformed lady on a Firearms training exercise. Both very pleasant, during their visit young lady casually asks "Why do you need 20 Firearms" I replied "Why do you need so many pairs of shoes"

Point taken and smiles all round.

. I know a few girls with about three pairs. You’re lucky mate.

It would be a sad and boring world if we only ever possessed what we actually need and nothing more........

breacher wrote:It would be a sad and boring world if we only ever possessed what we actually need and nothing more........

surely you aren't suggesting that you have firearms that you only WANT, and not NEED??

breacher wrote: You might live in a village with zero crime and not a single resident with a criminal record - you have 20 rifles and nobody asks you to have an alarm.......................or you might have 2 rifles live in a town plagued by burglary, the guy three doors down is on parole for burglary, the guy in the next street has previous for murder of a neighbour etc etc etc etc They will ask you to consider an alarm but will not give details of your neighbours past !

a past FEO on his one and only visit to my flat in Luton said I needed an alarm and would not return my FAC until I called him to say one was fitted. his words were, 'you have some very naughty neighbours, fit an alarm'.

You guys have been very unlucky with FEO's..............I've only ever seen one (and on only two occasions) since 2007.........nice old chap, ex-job, now retired, afaik.

Pete

The local risk issue can work two ways, I had a visit once from a crime prevention officer when they were being used to assess security. His recommendation for security was way over the top for the four dozen odd guns I had at the time. I politely wrote to firearms certification challenging his recommendations and pointing out the low local risk and present security arrangements being more than adequate, they wrote back saying my current security was fine and the renewal went through.

However the OP's post seems to suggest that in this particular case it is more than just pertaining to individual situations but a blanket approach based on the number of firearms held regardless of the local risk.

When we first moved to the new workshop the CPO suggested a lot of things, some were sensible and some bordering on impossible so we put in what we thought was required and would comply with guidelines and he was delighted as was the FEO. One thing I did learn is never, ever put a crime prevention officer and alarm man together as they have a tendency to spend a lot of money if left unchecked.

Ovenpaa wrote:When we first moved to the new workshop the CPO suggested a lot of things, some were sensible and some bordering on impossible so we put in what we thought was required and would comply with guidelines and he was delighted as was the FEO. One thing I did learn is never, ever put a crime prevention officer and alarm man together as they have a tendency to spend a lot of money if left unchecked.

Agree with that, our two got to £30k before we had to calm them down!

Sim G wrote:

MistAgain wrote:Police forces claim they are short of cash and manpower .

So they go swanning round mob handed .

That gives them reason to complain to Home Office that FAC and SGC fees should go up .

My force had to cut 500 officers and 1000 support staff. Their work didn’t “go away” it had to be picked up by someone. In today’s climate, if they turn up at your door it’s because they really need to turn up at your door. The luxury of “swanning around mob handed” disappeared 10 years ogo!

Well said! I agree 100%

dromia wrote: However the OP's post seems to suggest that in this particular case it is more than just pertaining to individual situations but a blanket approach based on the number of firearms held regardless of the local risk.

Yes, Operation Chaxis has been a decision from higher up in management. I was told it was being influenced by things going on within the Home Office...

Why an op? Sounds strange to me that they go to the trouble of getting a named op for something that should be quite simple. Query their DB for anyone with >12 entries on their FAC. Sort highest first and start visiting people top down.... BAU rather than going to the trouble of a full blown operation. Strange.