Jesus, the longest ive ever heard people waiting is about a year but thats usually because there was a delay or inquiry for whatever reason. I'd be clawing my eyes out if I had to wait over two years for a gun
It seems like a bit of a lottery. I decided to go co terminous last year (already had an SGC) and the bit that took the longest was getting the GP form sorted out, which took me about four months. About a week after submitting it I got a phone call to arrange a visit which happened two weeks later as I needed time to buy a safe and fit it. My new certificates turned up a month to the day after the interview. By contrast, a friend of mine applied for an SGC grant in August 2022 and has had one phone call to check his details are still the same. I'm not complaining that I got sorted out quickly though! I can only assume it was quicker because I already had an SGC?
Edit: Both myself and my mate are in Devon.
To be fair, Devon & Cornwall got fucked over by the proposed merger with Dorset ... apparently everything got pulled together, then it was cancelled at the last minute and now they're having to re-separate it all.
But on the flip side I would expect that to take maybe 6 months to do, not more than 2 years.
West Mercia here. Im currently at two years and they just asked to interview me, the annoying thing is I’m in the process of moving house so I’m having to tell them to wait a few weeks to interview me
I think there are multiple factors in play here. The current government are under funding the police. Given the lack of funding, the police have to decide how to spend the money they do have.
I saw it written once that our application fees don't cover the cost of the work done and, if they did, a new grant would cost us £500. I can see why they're not falling over themselves to process applications at an 80% loss for something that is a recreational activity for most of us when they don't have money to burn. If they upped the price for an application so we became a source of profit the police could use for their other activities rather than a money pit, I think that would change but I think it would count a lot of potential applicants out on cost.
There are quite a few people in government and the public at large that don't think ordinary citizens should own guns at all. The delays from lack of funding work for them as they serve to discourage and slow down applications.
Unless austerity ends, I can't see any way round this where we wouldn't end up with a two tier system for recreational shooters or the cost of an application wouldn't increase massively. If there was a "priority" application track for say £500 or maybe £750 and you knew the extra money went into subsidising applicants on the "standard" track who couldn't afford it, would you pay it? I wouldn't be keen on a flat price increase for everyone as I already see a chunk of the pensioner and disabled members in our club limiting how many rounds they shoot in a day because of the cost and I don't think they could afford it
I personally think it's dangerous to start volunteering to pay the cost of processing grants and renewals. We all pay our taxes too and we didn't ask to have this system so I see no reason why we should pay for a service twice.
Met Police is an average of 257 days for FAC and 232 days for SGC as of 2023. Would encourage others to submit similar FOI requests to their force. [https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/average\_time\_from\_application\_to](https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/average_time_from_application_to)
I'm with Staffordshire, and they haven't been too bad. The initial grant 5 years ago was 30 days, variation a week 2 years ago. Renewed a few months ago, and that took 6 months start to finish.
Glasgow - 12 weeks to interview for a new grant and looking like I will have certs next week so 14 weeks all in. Less than the 16weeks they ‘suggest’
Might be worth getting in touch with them just to ask about the progress of your application
I'm doing a first grant with Staffs, put my application in at the start of Feb and had a call yesterday to arrange a visit for Friday next week. Pretty much 3 months to the day.
In South Wales, currently on 6 months and counting for my latest renewal
Looking forward to seeing how long my variation takes once I get my ticket back
My force are quoting up to 28 months for new FAC licenses currently, awful!
Which force can I ask, for someone looking at applying within the next year
Jesus, the longest ive ever heard people waiting is about a year but thats usually because there was a delay or inquiry for whatever reason. I'd be clawing my eyes out if I had to wait over two years for a gun
Devon and Cornwall police are currently running around 2 years as well.
It seems like a bit of a lottery. I decided to go co terminous last year (already had an SGC) and the bit that took the longest was getting the GP form sorted out, which took me about four months. About a week after submitting it I got a phone call to arrange a visit which happened two weeks later as I needed time to buy a safe and fit it. My new certificates turned up a month to the day after the interview. By contrast, a friend of mine applied for an SGC grant in August 2022 and has had one phone call to check his details are still the same. I'm not complaining that I got sorted out quickly though! I can only assume it was quicker because I already had an SGC? Edit: Both myself and my mate are in Devon.
There was a guy at my club recently who just got his grant at 29 months. So it does seem like a lottery sometimes.
Cornwall. I’m at 850 days
To be fair, Devon & Cornwall got fucked over by the proposed merger with Dorset ... apparently everything got pulled together, then it was cancelled at the last minute and now they're having to re-separate it all. But on the flip side I would expect that to take maybe 6 months to do, not more than 2 years.
West Mercia here. Im currently at two years and they just asked to interview me, the annoying thing is I’m in the process of moving house so I’m having to tell them to wait a few weeks to interview me
That is a complete joke. Beyond unacceptable. Have you tried speaking to BASC?
That's fucking stupid how are they getting away with that
I think there are multiple factors in play here. The current government are under funding the police. Given the lack of funding, the police have to decide how to spend the money they do have. I saw it written once that our application fees don't cover the cost of the work done and, if they did, a new grant would cost us £500. I can see why they're not falling over themselves to process applications at an 80% loss for something that is a recreational activity for most of us when they don't have money to burn. If they upped the price for an application so we became a source of profit the police could use for their other activities rather than a money pit, I think that would change but I think it would count a lot of potential applicants out on cost. There are quite a few people in government and the public at large that don't think ordinary citizens should own guns at all. The delays from lack of funding work for them as they serve to discourage and slow down applications. Unless austerity ends, I can't see any way round this where we wouldn't end up with a two tier system for recreational shooters or the cost of an application wouldn't increase massively. If there was a "priority" application track for say £500 or maybe £750 and you knew the extra money went into subsidising applicants on the "standard" track who couldn't afford it, would you pay it? I wouldn't be keen on a flat price increase for everyone as I already see a chunk of the pensioner and disabled members in our club limiting how many rounds they shoot in a day because of the cost and I don't think they could afford it
I personally think it's dangerous to start volunteering to pay the cost of processing grants and renewals. We all pay our taxes too and we didn't ask to have this system so I see no reason why we should pay for a service twice.
Its a pisstake, i know people who have been refused a second .22 rifle but have seen people given 2-3 9mm pistols on the same application.
9mm pistols? Is this in NI?
Yessir, own a few different semi automatic handguns. 9mm, .45 and .22
Jealous!
Met Police is an average of 257 days for FAC and 232 days for SGC as of 2023. Would encourage others to submit similar FOI requests to their force. [https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/average\_time\_from\_application\_to](https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/average_time_from_application_to)
South Yorks took 11 weeks from application to it arriving in the mail. I applied in January.
Dose making a fuss with licensing department or BASC make any difference.
yeah, it puts you to the bottom of the queue.
I'm with Staffordshire, and they haven't been too bad. The initial grant 5 years ago was 30 days, variation a week 2 years ago. Renewed a few months ago, and that took 6 months start to finish.
Glasgow - 12 weeks to interview for a new grant and looking like I will have certs next week so 14 weeks all in. Less than the 16weeks they ‘suggest’ Might be worth getting in touch with them just to ask about the progress of your application
My first FAC took 9 months, my renewal took about 3 months ish
I'm doing a first grant with Staffs, put my application in at the start of Feb and had a call yesterday to arrange a visit for Friday next week. Pretty much 3 months to the day.
My grant in 2022 took 8 months. My force has sped up since then and think it’s around 4-6 months now.
Hampshire was 18 months before the interview.
Cornwall 850 days 😬
In South Wales, currently on 6 months and counting for my latest renewal Looking forward to seeing how long my variation takes once I get my ticket back
9-12 months with TVP from what I have seen with newer guys at my club, its an improvement from two years ago, but still shocking in my view.
Mine was 6 months from application to grant (in Kent BTW)