Staff dealing with firearms licensing to more than double, says Herts PCC
Herts PCC met with the Chief Constable where they discussed a report which found delays could be putting the public at risk
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire says there will more than double the number of staff dealing with firearms licensing to help clear the backlogs, which will cause resources elsewhere to be stretched.
The PCC met with Chief Constable Andy Prophet yesterday as part of their Accountability & Performance Meeting.
It follows a report last week from the independent HM Inspectorate of Constabulary which showed an "accelerated cause of concern" for the "significant" backlogs in dealing with applications for shotgun licences in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
The report highlighted delays could be "leaving the public at risk".
Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Hertfordshire PCC says there are a number of changes that were outlined during the meeting to improve the service, such as “further resources”.
He said: “Taking into account the increase that Hertfordshire made, as well as Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, it will be an over doubling of the team of staff that are processing those applications - going up to 88 posts in the coming weeks.
Adding: “There's also some improvements in things like staff training and communications with the public, which has been a real challenge for public dissatisfaction.”
"It will mean some pressures elsewhere"
Mr Ash-Edwards says an increase in resources will be made possible due to “people being moved from other functions”.
“There are no people sitting around doing nothing, so it will mean some pressures elsewhere because people will have to be moved from other roles to provide that increase.
“Also, as the police and Crime Commissioner, I’m going to be providing some additional funding to help with things like overtime, but that reflects a general challenge for policing”, he said.
Hertfordshire’s PCC says he will continue to hold the Chief Constable to account for progress.
Mr Ash-Edwards said: “It has been something that we have been quite focused on and it will return as a as a topic on a frequent basis, no doubt.
“Until we get to a point where the cause of concern is lifted, the backlogs have been cleared, and it's a service that is providing a good service to the public.
“People, particularly in our rural communities, who might need a firearm for work, have been let down and it's really important that a light is shone on it until it's resolved.”