Firearms licensing 237/2022

FOI Reference: 237/2022

Request:

Unless stated otherwise, all questions relate to the current position as of 1st March 2022

1. How many staff work in the force's FLD (Full time equivalent)?

2. How many of these are police officers?

3. Are any other staff involved in work for the department (e.g. PCSOs doing enquiries or PNC staff doing background checks)? If so, how many and what are their roles?

4. What training is provided to FEOs and by whom?

5. Who holds the delegated authority of the chief officer under section 55 Firearms Act 1968 to grant/renew/refuse/revoke? How many staff have this delegated authority?

6. What is the budget for the department?

7. Is the budget ring-fenced?

8. Is FLD as stand alone department, or part of another business area?

9. How many certificates have been extended under section 28B in last 12 months?

10. How many Section 7 permits have been issued in the last 12 months due to expired certificates?

11. Is the force currently accepting grant applications?

12. What is the turnaround time for a grant? (Currently and a year ago)

13. When is an application first recorded on NFLMS? As soon as received? Once all enquiries have been completed? At some other stage in the process (please specify)?

14. Are certificates ever issued on NFLMS prior to conducting statutory enquiries?

Response 1:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

A total of 22.2 Full Time Employees inclusive of Firearm Enquiry Officers and Management.

Response 2:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

There are zero (0) police officers employed in the FLD.

Response 3:  

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

There are no other staff involved in work for the department.

Response 4:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Training is delivered by South Yorkshire Police Force.

Response 5:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

The roles that hold delegated authority for the Chief Constable are  a) Deputy Chief Constable, b) Assistant Chief Constable c) Firearms and Explosive Licensing Specialist d) Business Support Unit Co-ordinator Criminal Justice and Operations and e) Senior Firearms Enquiry Officer.

Response 6:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

I can confirm that there is no information held by Dyfed-Powys Police due to the fact that there is no specific budget set just for Firearms Licensing.

Response 7:

A response to question 7 is not applicable which is based on the response provided in relation to question 6.

Response 8:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

FLD is a department within the Business Support Unit.

Response 9:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Applications received between 20.03.2021 – 21.03.2022 there were 167 certificates extended under section 28B. This would include individuals who hold more than one type of certificate.

Response 10:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Between 16.03.2022- 16/03/2022  Firearm 406 and Shotgun 937 received Section 7 permits.  This will include individuals who have received more than one permit extension.

Response 11:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Dyfed-Powys Police is accepting grant applications.

Response 12:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Date Timeframe	Firearm Average Turnaround	Shotgun Average Turnaround
01.01.2021 – 16.03.2021	31	47
01.01.2022 – 13.03.2022	17	11

Response 13:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Applications are first recorded on the day they are received on NFLMS.

Response 14:

The possession of firearms and ammunition in Great Britain is regulated mainly by the Firearms Act 1968.  The Home Office guide on Firearms Licensing Law and Statutory guidance for Chief Officers of Police are published on the gov.uk website.

Please note: "Information is defined in section 84 of the Act as 'information recorded in any form'. The Act therefore only extends to requests for recorded information. It does not require public authorities to answer questions generally; only if they already hold the answers in recorded form. The Act does not extend to requests for information about policies or their implementation, or the merits or demerits of any proposal or action - unless, of course, the answer to any such request is already held in recorded form." (Day vs ICO & DWP – EA/2006/0069 Final Decision)

                                                                                                           

It should be noted that as a result of the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such information that the information released may or may not be accurate.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 14/04/2022)