Firearms fees proposals published for consultation - please

[Gloop]

Firearms fees proposals published for consultation - please vote online now

Message from Alan Jarrett, BASC Chairman:

The Home Office has today (27 November) launched a public consultation on proposed new firearms certificate fees. This is one of the most important issues facing shooting. Opponents would like to see the cost of a shotgun certificate raised to £200 or more to cover cuts to police budgets, and to raise fees to a level which would make the cost of private ownership of firearms prohibitive to many. This is our opportunity to make sure a fair settlement is accepted by Parliament. The first step is to vote in the public consultation. There is a link below.

The proposed schedule of fees has been welcomed as fair by BASC and is the result of many months of work. We welcome the Government’s initiative to involve stakeholders and do the job properly. If these fees are accepted, we can have confidence that we are paying a fair price for certificates, a price which has been decided after a rigorous process founded on solid evidence. We hope to see this proposal implemented after the consultation.

The proposals are to increase the fee for the grant of a shotgun certificate from £50 to £79.50 with proportionate increases in other licensing fees. If agreed these will be the first increases in fees for 13 years.

The proposed new fees originated in the work of a Home Office working group which included BASC, the British Shooting Sports Council and the police.

Under the proposals the fee for a shotgun renewal would rise to £49, for the grant of a firearm certificate to £88 and for renewal of firearms certificates to £62. Variations on firearms certificates would be reduced to £20. Coterminous certificates, where both shotgun and firearm certificates are dealt with at the same time would be £90 and then £65 on renewal. A full schedule of proposed fees can be seen on the consultation, via the link below.

Initial police proposals were for a rise in shotgun certificate fees from £50 to £109. BASC rejected this and asked for the component parts of the licensing system to be fully costed and examined in accordance with the principles of better regulation and Treasury guidelines and taking into account the police move to e-commerce for firearms licensing.

Our chief executive Richard Ali said; “I congratulate the Home Office for ensuring that the full process complied with Treasury guidelines and with the principles of better regulation introduced under the last government and built on by this. It is vital that BASC members and friends vote in the consultation.”

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Shooting and Conservation, who worked closely with the Home Office on this issue, said; “I believe this is a good result for all sections of the shooting community. It provides a fair basis for fee levels in the future. Under these proposals the police are committed to achieving a cost-effective and consistent service across 42 constabularies. This is a good example of the All-Party Group working with BASC and the other shooting organisations, the police and the Home Office to produce an acceptable result and one which protects the shooting community for the future.”

I urge you to take the time to look at the full schedule of fees and to vote in favour of them. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard, please take it – and encourage all of your friends to do the same. The consultation is open to the public until 29 December. Opponents of shooting will be voting. Make sure you do too.

See the proposals and consultation here: http://bit.ly/1pnp6IM

[eyemajic]

Great post, thanks for the info.

Done - and link shared with a few friends

[Gloop]

Important note:

Do not preview the survey content without completing the relevant questions as you will be unable to go back to the start to fill in the responses – the site will record that you have already completed the survey and cannot do so again.

[andybig]

Apparently these price increases are backed by the BASC??? (so iv heard)
Looks like they are only interested in wealthy members.
These days the BASC only look out for themselves?
They didnt lift a finger to stop air rifle licensing in Scotland.

Just my point of view, not trying to ruffle feathers.

[Gloop]

This is not about liking Basc or not liking basc. There is a proposal to increase the fees. They haven't been increased for 13 years? So something has to be expected. Wasn't long ago there were calls for fees to be £200.

This is people's chance to get off their arse and say something. As pointed out, antis can fill the form in as well.

Do it or don't do it, your call.

[andybig]

Sorry mate.
didnt mean to distract from this very important topic.

Like you say. If you dont get involved you dont get a say in the matter.

Im sure the Antis will have a field day with this one given half a chance.
The Thankyou button will gone soon so id like to say thankyou for bringing this to peoples attention.

Iv passed this info onto a few friends and posted it on another none related forum.
So the word gets out a bit more.

[hibbydunk]

If you still to complete it there is a comments box cant remember if it says fee increases or not but worth putting in increases limited to increase in annual RPI. Its better than them just doubling or tripling it over a couple years cos no one has thought to tie increases into some public measure.

[baffled]

Done.

And well done for publicising.

Ken.