Firearms Enquiries Officer
Encyclopedia
A Firearms Enquiry Officer (FEO) is a civilian
member of most police forces in the United Kingdom, who is responsible for investigation issues related to firearm
s, to make sure they are in compliance with United Kingdom gun laws
.
FEOs carry out personal visits to applicants' homes as part of the application process for firearms or shotgun licence, or explosives certificate, to ensure that they meet the legal requirements as to secure storage of the weapons or explosives. They also carry out background checks on applicants for firearms licenses to ensure that the applicant has no previous record of firearms-related crimes or history of mental instability. They also perform similar checks when licences are renewed, to reassess licencees.
FEOs also make visits to the homes of licenced firearm owners and shooting clubs to assess the security that the firearms are kept in; if this is not up to standard the licence may be put in jeopardy.
FEOs are full-time members of staff employed by the specific Police Force that they work for, and usually part of an enquiry team, though in smaller stations they may work on their own. They work closely with Authorised Firearms Officer
s and Specialist Firearms Officer
s as their jobs are related.
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
member of most police forces in the United Kingdom, who is responsible for investigation issues related to firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s, to make sure they are in compliance with United Kingdom gun laws
Gun politics in the United Kingdom
Gun politics in the United Kingdom generally places its main considerations on how best to ensure public safety and how deaths involving firearms can most effectively be prevented. The United Kingdom has one of the lowest rates of gun homicides in the world, and did so even before strict gun...
.
FEOs carry out personal visits to applicants' homes as part of the application process for firearms or shotgun licence, or explosives certificate, to ensure that they meet the legal requirements as to secure storage of the weapons or explosives. They also carry out background checks on applicants for firearms licenses to ensure that the applicant has no previous record of firearms-related crimes or history of mental instability. They also perform similar checks when licences are renewed, to reassess licencees.
FEOs also make visits to the homes of licenced firearm owners and shooting clubs to assess the security that the firearms are kept in; if this is not up to standard the licence may be put in jeopardy.
FEOs are full-time members of staff employed by the specific Police Force that they work for, and usually part of an enquiry team, though in smaller stations they may work on their own. They work closely with Authorised Firearms Officer
Authorised Firearms Officer
An Authorised Firearms Officer is a British police officer who has received training and authorisation to carry and use firearms. The designation is significant because within the United Kingdom, police officers do not routinely carry firearms...
s and Specialist Firearms Officer
Specialist Firearms Officer
A Specialist Firearms Officer is a British Police officer who has undergone training in the use of police firearms, and therefore is authorised to carry and when necessary use a firearm to prevent an immediate threat to life. All SFOs first train as Authorised Firearms Officers which crew armed...
s as their jobs are related.