Richard Fuller MP recently joined a meeting of the All Party Group for Shooting and Conservation.
Speaking afterwards, he said:
I recently signed a joint letter to the Home Secretary about the issues surrounding gun licensing and a reply was received from the Policing Minister earlier this month in which she laid out her justifications for the increase in fees as well as the pressure she is exerting on Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to speed up turn around times for applications.
I signed the letter and attended the meeting because a number of local residents have raised concerns about the process of firearms licensing. The delays have become completely unacceptable and there are further concerns that oversight of gun ownership is too intrusive and that that, in turn, creates greater anxiety.
The government recently announced that fees for licence applications will more than double (up 133%) with no acceptance that service levels will improve. Right now, more than a quarter of police forces across the country are taking more than a year – a whole year – to approve a licence. I believe police forces should be mandated to approve licences within a maximum of four months.
I would be interested in the thoughts of the rural community on whether the Minister's response goes any way to providing reassurance that the situation will improve, and also if the comments on licensing costs are deemed reasonable
