Shooters to email notifications

Shooting Times

April 16, 2011

Electronic methods of communication will soon become available to shooters needing to make statutory notifications to police firearms departments.

The Firearms (Electronic Communications) Order 2011, which came into force on 1 April after years of discussion between shooting associations, the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers, enables certificate holders to notify their local police about the acquisition, transfer or disposal of firearms by fax or email.

Until now shooters had been officially required to make any statutory notifications by registered or recorded delivery postal services, though shooters may continue to use these methods if they prefer.

A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: ?This development will be welcomed by the shooting community. There will no doubt be some fine-tuning to the new system, but progress is being made that will save shooters time, effort and money.?

The rest of this article appears in 13th April issue of Shooting Times.