MET WITH SILENCE

Someone who is aggrieved by such a revocation may appeal to the Crown Court — the Sheriff Court in Scotland — under Section 44 of the Firearms Act 1968. In such cases, the judge or sheriff sits in the stead of the Chief Constable and must hear the case on all of the evidence available at the time the appeal is held, rather than merely a review.

Unlike a criminal trial, there are no strict rules of evidence and hearsay may be admitted and afforded whatever weight the judge thinks fit.

Having considered the facts before the court, the judge will either uphold or overturn the Chief Constable’s decision. Public policy does not allow the appellant to be granted costs in the event that he wins. However, in the event that the appeal is dismissed it is inevitable that he will have to pay the Chief Constable’s costs.

It is my understanding from media reports that Davison had his guns returned after undergoing a suitability review because he had completed an anger management course, but as the Independent Office of Police Conduct has yet to publish its report, this cannot be confirmed nor denied.”

Having taken up shooting last year, I want to draw to your attention the complete failure of the Metropolitan Police (Met) in dealing with new applications. I have been waiting for more than six months for the Met to deal with my licence application. Having submitted my application in October last year, I was told at the start of December it would be between two and four months. Here we are in May and I’ve heard nothing.

On the Met website it says applications can take up to six months, which clearly is a timescale they are not adhering to. I am actually concerned now that I won’t have my licence before the start of the season, which would be incredible, and is going to make my shooting even more expensive in an already considerably expensive season.

I think readers would be interested to know about this and it would be interesting to hear what the Met has to say — because I can’t get anything out of them.

Name and address supplied

Next week, Simon Garnham stalks muntjac and the great Giles Catchpole wonders if he’ll ever cook rook pie again.

‘‘The wildlife of today is not ours to dispose of as we please. We have it in trust. We must account for it to those who come after.’’ King George VI

The Plymouth shootings last year raised serious questions about licensed firearm ownership

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