Information about the role of a firearms enquiry officer, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
A firearms enquiry officer (FEO) is a firearms licensing position within the business support sector of policing. It's a service deliverer role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
Minimise risk to the public and certificate holders by conducting robust enquiries that help inform fair and transparent decisions regarding the grant, renewal and variation of shotgun certificates and firearms licences.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Investigating, reviewing, and engaging with applicants (including registered firearms dealers) for a certificate or licence, to establish the applicant’s suitability to acquire, possess and lawfully use shotguns and/or firearms.
- Investigating, reviewing, and engaging with applicants (including shooting clubs and museums) for a certificate or licence, to make recommendations to the Home Office regarding applicants’ suitability.
- Providing recommendations using a risk-based approach as to the grant, refusal, or revocation of shotgun and firearm certificates, to protect the public and ensure an efficient and fair service.
- Contributing to the ongoing and continuous monitoring of certificate holders’ suitability to hold shotgun and firearm certificates to accurately assess and respond appropriately to risks to public safety.
- Liaising with relevant colleagues and departments to escalate response where a risk has been identified relating to a vulnerable individual, in accordance with statutory guidance to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
- Preparing reports and managing case files within best practice procedures to ensure an audit trail of fair and transparent decisions.
- Using own subject matter knowledge to provide advice to the public and the police service on the legal possession, security and safe shooting of firearms and ammunition to improve safety, prevent foreseeable harm and support the prosecution of offenders.
- Acting in adherence to all legal frameworks, key working principles, policies and guidance relevant to the role to ensure compliance with legislation and statutory guidance and to provide a fair and transparent service.
- Undertaking or assisting in the seizure, surrender, or recovery of guns, ensuring safe handling, making safe and accurate record keeping, to comply with local and national guidelines.
- Attending court to provide evidence to assist in criminal justice and civil proceedings.
Competencies, values and core skills
The competency and values framework (CVF) provides clear expectations for everyone working in policing. It describes the behaviours required by police officers and staff to be effective in their roles and uphold the Code of Ethics for policing.
Competencies
The CVF has six competencies, which are split into levels. These levels can be used flexibly to allow for a better fit with frontline and non-frontline policing roles, and at different levels of seniority. This ensures that there is consistency throughout all the policing professional profiles. Some roles may contain different CVF levels due to the specialist nature of the role. Those working at higher levels should also fulfil the requirements of the lower levels.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following competencies.
- We are emotionally aware – Level 1: practitioner
- We take ownership – Level 1: practitioner
- We collaborate – Level 1: practitioner
- We support and inspire – Level 1: practitioner
- We analyse critically – Level 1: practitioner
- We are innovative and open-minded – Level 1: practitioner
Values
The CVF has three values that apply to everyone in policing, regardless of their role or seniority.
Core skills
All roles in policing have nine core skills in common. These are split into levels that represent the different levels of policing. This role should be operating at or working towards the following core skills.
- Communicating and influencing – Level 1
- Problem solving – Level 1
- Performance management – Level 1
- Relationship management – Level 1
- Change management – Level 1
- Managing people – Level 1
- Managing resources – Level 1
- Planning – Level 1
- Use of IT – Level 1
Education, qualifications and experience
To achieve effective performance in the role, the following standards should be met.
Previous education, qualifications and experience
- Grade C or level 4, or equivalent in English.
In-role education, qualifications and experience
- Successful completion of national firearms enquiry officer course within first 12 months.
- Successful completion of interviewing skills or PEACE course.
- Successful completion of safe handling or make safe training.
- Participation in range days as required to complete.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development (CPD) enables everyone in policing to develop and gain recognition for their professional skills, knowledge and competence. CPD ensures that we continue to provide high-quality policing to keep the public safe and help to drive career aspirations. Discussion of CPD is usually included as part of professional development review (PDR)conversations.
Learning and accreditation
- Maintain College of Policing FEO registration through annual CPD and national reaccreditation programme.
- Complete all core training and learning as required by the force.
- Any exemptions to learning and accreditation requirements are at chief constable discretion, in line with the local force policy.
Professional development
This role should consider the following CPD:
- researching and refreshing own subject matter expertise
- maintaining skills and knowledge about firearms and weapon handling and inspection
- maintaining currency of College of Policing guidance, good practice, standard operating procedures and any local policy applicable to the operational police context
- maintaining and updating key knowledge, understanding and skills relating to legislation policy and practice across all functional policing areas of operational responsibility
- maintaining a working knowledge and understanding of new and evolving firearms-related threats and priorities and current good practice to tackle these to enable a proactive and preventative approach
Related roles
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