Latest Government Guidance (20th March 2020)
Tonight (Friday 20th March 2020), the Government have announced some further updates in their attempts to stem the spread of the virus. These measures include Mr Johnson announcing strengthening the measures announced earlier this week:
"We are telling cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants to close tonight as soon as they reasonably can and not reopen tomorrow.”
Places like nightclubs, cinemas and gyms will also follow suit. While many shooting clubs have their own premises, some may be impacted directly by this while other clubs may choose to close to align with the broader principles of this guidance.
We all know what’s positive role sport play in all our lives and closures will therefore have a big impact on the physical and mental health of many. However, it is also noted that for a number of shooting clubs bills will continue to come in and for some, the club also operates as business providing a livelihood for those involved. Some also provide paid coaching services and rely on this to support their income. As such, the Government have also announced a number of measures to support businesses by providing measures to support payments of bills and salaries. A summary of the measures announced tonight are provided below:
Businesses can apply for a grant of up to £2,500 a month to cover 80% of salary for those retained but not working
VAT for all businesses is being deferred until the end of June and the business loan scheme will now be interest free for 12 months
Universal Credit allowance increases £1,000 a year and the next tax self assessments will be deferred until the start of next year
The self-employed will get full Universal Credit at a rate equivalent to statutory sick pay
A link with further details has been provided below:
Police Scotland – Coronavirus response to Firearms Processing
The following is a brief which will be uploaded to the Police Scotland website today (20th March 2002) which has been approved at Executive level and which outlines Police Scotland’s interim processes. STS understands that these matters are of huge importance to the shooting community so are supporting the dissemination of this information through our website, social media channels and directly with members. The message from the Police reads as follows:
The current unprecedented circumstances in respect of the Coronavirus has impacted on the ability of Police Scotland to deliver a number of business as usual functions. It is necessary that we have as many officers as possible available to front line operational policing and support our colleagues in the NHS.
As such, in light of the guidance issued by the Government on Monday 16th March, National Firearms and Explosives Licensing has reviewed the current processes in respect of grant and renewal applications and the following will be implemented with effect from Friday 20th March 2020.
New Grant Applications
Grant applications received at NFEL will not be processed and will be returned to you, advising that you should check the website for updates as to when this service will resume.
The only exception to this is where the grant of a certificate is for essential employment purposes, i.e. gamekeeper, pest control, off shore work. If your application is for employment purposes, this will be progressed to the best of our ability, given the dynamic changing environment and partner organisational capacity, i.e. GP practices.
Grant applications that are currently in the NFEL processing cycle will be assessed and reviewed. Those meeting the good reason test described above will be progressed to the best of our ability. All work on grant applications currently in the system for any other purpose will be suspended meantime. This will be communicated to individual applicants by letter.
Renewal Applications
Government advice to avoid non-essential contact will be adhered to by Police Scotland. As a result, home visits undertaken by Firearms Enquiry Officers will be suspended meantime in respect of renewal applications.
If you are currently in the renewal process and have received and completed your renewal pack, you will shortly be contacted by a member of Police Scotland staff. If you wish to proceed with your renewal, this will be managed in the interim period remotely. You will be asked to return your completed paperwork to a processing centre and we will endeavour to renew your certificate prior to expiry. If this cannot be achieved, contingencies exist in the form of temporary extensions and temporary permits which will allow you to continue to possess and use your firearms. We will aim however to complete your renewal without the need to resort to this.
Clearly our aim is to return to a business as usual service as soon as possible and we will communicate on the Police Scotland website when we are in a position to revert to our usual renewal processes.
If your renewal is due between 1 August and 31 December 2020, you will receive your renewal pack as normal in the coming weeks and months. Please refer to the Police Scotland website for guidance and information as we will continue to review this dynamic situation and publish updates in relation to any changes in our process.
Visitor Permits
New Visitor Permit applications will not be accepted and will be returned to you. Where Visitor Permits have already been granted and you are unable to visit Scotland, you will not be disadvantaged and we will seek to allocate a future date, or a refund if this is more preferable to you.
Variations
Variation applications, other than change of addresses for air weapon certificate holders, will not be accepted until further notice unless exceptional circumstances exist.
Change of Address/Transfers In
If as an existing firearms or shotgun certificate holder you require to notify us of a change of address, or are transferring into Scotland from a UK force, this will be processed and you will be communicated with directly.
Please contact NFEL by email/telephone with any queries you may have. We would be obliged if you could refrain from personal attendance at police offices meantime.