Firearms Enquiry Officer

We currently have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Firearms & Explosives Licensing Enquiry Officer. This role is an office contracted role, but the majority of time will be spent working agilely across the Tri-force area - Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Please note the hiring force contract does not dictate your living and working location as you will be expected to work across the 3 areas.

The purpose of this role is to minimise risk to public safety, by conducting robust enquiries that will help form fair and transparent decisions in regard to the suitability of licenced holders, whilst adhering to the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended), statutory/non-statutory Firearms Licensing Guidance and Explosives Regulations 2014.

Key accountabilities are as follows:

Investigate, review, interview and meet with applicants for a certificate/licence and establish the applicant’s suitability to acquire, possess and lawfully use shotguns and/or firearms. Likewise for clubs, explosives and registered firearms dealers.

Use a risk-based approach and provide recommendations as to the grant, refusal or revocation of certificates, in order to protect the public and ensure an efficient and fair service.

Contribute to the ongoing and continuous monitoring of certificate holders suitability to hold certificates, in order to accurately assess and respond appropriately to risks to public safety.

Liaise with relevant colleagues and departments in order to provide protection, support and reassurance to those identified at risk.

Prepare reports and manage case files within best practice procedures to ensure an audit trail of fair and transparent decisions.

Develop and maintain specialist working knowledge on the legal possession, security and safe shooting of firearms and ammunition, and provide advice to the public and the police service in order to improve safety, prevent foreseeable harm and support the prosecution of offenders.

Act in adherence to all legal frameworks, key working principles, policies and guidance relevant to the role.

When required, assist in the seizing, surrendering, or recovery of guns, ensuring safe handling, and accurate record keeping.

Have personal responsibility for Continued Professional Development. Research and refresh own subject matter expertise. Maintain skills and knowledge pertaining to firearms/weapon handling and inspection. Maintain currency of College of Policing Guidance, best practice and any local policy applicable to the operational police context. Maintain and update key knowledge, understanding and skills relating to legislation policy and practice across all functional policing areas of operational responsibility. Maintain knowledge and understanding of new approaches identified by evidence based policing research and problem solving and team working and synthesise these into working practice. Maintain a working knowledge and understanding of new and evolving crime threats and priorities; and current best practice to tackle these in order to enable a pro-active and preventative approach. Complete all annual and mandatory training including for example, fitness tests, personal safety training, first aid, and protecting information.

The desired candidate will have knowledge and experience of applying Firearms Legislation and Home Office Guidance and have the ability to manage their own workload with minimal supervision.

They would also be:

Skilled in the inspection and handling of shotguns and firearms.

Have good communication skills with the ability to listen to others.

Be able to produce concise reports or other documents.

Be skilled in the use of use standard IT packages, systems and/or databases to fulfil role requirements.

Be able to use resources efficiently in own role and to comply with financial rules and procedures.

Be able to identify potential opportunities to enhance efficiency and/or effectiveness within own area of work.

Be able to break down a straightforward problem into component parts and determine appropriate action.

Be able to interpret and apply guidance to a specific activity.

Be able to work effectively in a team to achieve shared objectives, demonstrating awareness of individual differences and providing support as required.

Be able to review own performance objectively and to take steps to maintain and enhance competence and professional standards appropriate to the role.

Be able to appropriately prioritise and plan own work.

Be able to proactively develop effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.