By Firearms licences in Lincolnshire
Huge improvements in dealing with firearms licences in Lincolnshire have been recognised nationally.
Every year the British Association for Shooting and Conservation creates a league table to grade the speed at which forces deal with licenses. This year Lincolnshire Police were rated in the top three for dealing with certificate grants and renewals.
They had previously been rated two places below this.
There are currently around 14,800 licence holders and 55,000 guns in Lincolnshire.
Licences need to be renewed every five years.
Detective Inspector Mark Seage, head of Lincolnshire Police Firearms and Explosives Licensing said:
“I am delighted the department has received such positive recognition from our partners at BASC and is now recognised as one of the top performing firearms licensing departments in the country.
This has been achieved as a result of everyone’s hard work. I especially want to thank Dr Kieran Sharrock from the Lincolnshire Medical Committee, GPs and surgeries around the county, our registered firearms dealers and certificate holders with whom we work closely.
Our collective aim is to ensure that public safety is at the core of everything we do, and to provide the best possible public service.”
This rise in the league tables comes after a new on-line application system was introduced in 2017 – following a pledge from the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones to deliver a better service and improved safety for licence holders and the public.
PCC Marc Jones said:
“One of the promises I made when I entered office was to deliver a more effective and efficient firearms licensing process – and, crucially, one that was safer for the public.
What is particularly impressive is that our new system not only delivers better service to thousands of license holder – many of whom depend on a firearm for their job – but we are now carrying out more visits and inspections too.
That means improved safety for everyone.”
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