Source · IOPC Learning Case

Recommendation - Avon and Somerset Constabulary, March 2021

Avon and Somerset Constabulary Ref: 2020/135980 Recommended 5 Mar 2021 Response due 30 Apr 2021

We identified organisational learning from a review of a local police investigation. Reports led to the police making a decision to revoke a shotgun licence and seize three shotguns. The guns were seized but no receipt was provided to the owner who indicated the APP for Major Investigation and Public Protection - Firearms Licensing stated a receipt should be provided in line with Home Office guidance. That guidance indicates some guns can have considerable monetary value.

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Recommendations

1 total

Recommendation 1

The IOPC recommends that Avon & Somerset Constabulary should put in place a mechanism by which a receipt is provided when firearms are seized in line with the Authorised Professional Practice Major Investigation and Public Protection - Firearms Licensing. A member of the public complained they had not been given a receipt when their firearms were seized during an operation to do so where the firearms certificate had been revoked. Do you accept the recommendation? Yes

Addressed to: Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Linked bodies: Avon and Somerset Police

Accepted

Force response

Accepted action: Procedural Guidance changed to include officers providing receipts when seizing firearms and to update niche.Change shared directly with Operations department via the Firearms Licensing Manager.