BASC has helped deliver a pilot course for police firearms enquiry officers (FEOs) aimed at giving them hands-on experience of the types of guns and shooting activities they are likely to encounter in their work.

The course was run earlier in September at Bisley Shooting Ground under the auspices of the British Shooting Sports Council, the umbrella body for UK shooting organisations.

During the course, presentations were given on a wide range of shooting activities, with BASC covering the use of both shotguns and rifles in live quarry shooting. There was also a presentation from the chairman of a Home Office-approved shooting club on the responsibilities of club committees. Following lunch, the FEOs were given the opportunity to try their hand at both clay pigeon and rifle shooting.

BASC head of firearms Martin Parker said: “This course for police firearms enquiry officers was a great opportunity to introduce FEOs to the different shooting disciplines, as well as enabling them to see and handle the guns they are likely to encounter. The feedback from those on the course was very positive, with lots of questions for the representatives from the shooting organisations.”

The course is to be rolled out to all FEOs in the UK over the next two years, helping to build strong partnerships between firearms licensing departments and the shooting community.