Crabbe Clay Pigeon Shooting Club: Approval

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A decision made on 29 September 2015:

Decision Reference: MD-HA-2015-0063
Decision Summary Title :	Crabbé Clay Pigeon Shooting Club – application for approval		Date of Decision Summary:	17 September 2015
Decision Summary Author:	Executive Officer Home Affairs		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	n/a
Written Report Title :	Crabbé Clay Pigeon Shooting Club – application for approval		Date of Written Report:	17 September 2015
Written Report Author:	Executive Officer Home Affairs		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Crabbé Clay Pigeon Shooting Club – request for approval
Decision(s): The Minister decided to approve the Crabbé Clay Pigeon Shooting Club as an approved shooting club under Article 15 of the Firearms (Jersey) Law 2000.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Crabbe Clay Pigeon Shooting Club (‘the Club’) has confirmed that it can adhere to the conditions that were drawn up in consultation with the Firearms Law Liaison Group (which has a membership comprising representatives from the Home Affairs Department, the States of Jersey Police, the Comité des Connétables, the Jersey Firearms Council and independent members of the public). The Club has also paid the relevant fee. Before granting approval to a shooting club, the Minister is required to consult with the Comité des Connétables, who have indicated that they support the application. The States of Jersey Police have also confirmed that they are happy that the Club be approved.
Resource Implications: None.
Action required: The Executive Officer, Home Affairs to notify the Club Secretary of the decision and to issue a certificate to the Club, confirming that it is an approved shooting club for a period of 6 years from the date of issue.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Home Affairs
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Crabbe Clay Pigeon Shooting Club: Approval of application as an approved shooting club

Application by the Crabbé Clay Pigeon Shooting Club

for approval under the Firearms (Jersey) Law 2000

The Department has received an application by the Secretary of the Crabbé Clay Pigeon Shooting Club (‘the Club’), for the Club to be approved as a shotgun club under Article 15 of the Firearms (Jersey) Law 2000 (‘the Law’).

Article 15 of the Law reads as follows:

15 Approval of shooting clubs

(1) Any club that is –

(a) a pistol club;

(b) a shot gun club;

(d) a miniature rifle club; or

(e) any combination of the foregoing,

may apply in the prescribed form to the Minister for approval as a shooting club.[22]

(2) An approval shall be in the prescribed form and, subject to paragraph (3) –

(a) may be granted subject to such conditions specified in it as the Minister thinks fit;

(b) may at any time be varied or withdrawn by the Minister; and

(3) Before granting or refusing to grant an approval or varying or withdrawing an approval the Minister shall consult the Comité des Connétables.[24]

(4) There shall be payable on the grant or renewal of an approval such fee as may be prescribed.

(5) A police officer authorized in writing in that behalf by the Chief Officer may on producing, if required, the police officer’s authority enter any premises occupied or used by a shooting club and inspect those premises, and anything on them, for the purposes of ascertaining whether the provisions of this Article, and any limitations or conditions on the approval, are being complied with.

(6) The power of a police officer under paragraph (5) to inspect anything on club premises shall include power to require any information which is kept by means of a computer and is accessible from the premises to be made available for inspection in a visible and legible form.

(7) Any person who intentionally obstructs a police officer in the exercise of the police officer’s powers under paragraph (5) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(8) Any person who knowingly or recklessly makes a statement false in any material particular for the purpose of procuring an approval under this Article, or the variation or renewal of any such approval, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.

The Club has paid the fee applicable under Article 15(4), which is currently £120 for a new club and has applied on the approved form.

The Secretary has provided a comprehensive range of paperwork relating to the Club, including copies of the application form for membership, the Club’s safety policy statement, copies of Safety Officers certificates issued by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, the Club’s constitution and draft Heads of Terms for the lease of the Clay Target Range at Crabbé in St Mary.

In earlier correspondence with the Secretary of the Club, the Department has received confirmation that the Club can comply with the series of conditions that were drawn up in consultation with the Firearms Law Liaison Group. The conditions are as follows:

Conditions to be met for approval as a Shooting Club under Article 15(2)(a):

1. The Club is a genuine shooting club and has a written constitution, and appropriate written range rules for the type of range(s) being used.

2. The Club has a member appointed to liaise with the police pursuant to Article 15, sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) of the Law, and when no-one has been appointed, the contact shall be through the Club’s Honorary Secretary in all matters relating to the Club’s approval.

3. The Club has an appropriate number of Range Safety Officers at its disposal and has a minimum of one officer on duty at any time that the range is in use. Clubs will be asked to provide a relevant certificate detailing the safe use of their ranges and calibres, within 6 months of receiving approval.

4. The Club maintains:

i) Membership lists

ii) A register of the attendance of all members, prospective members and guests who shoot with the Club.

- both to be available for inspection by SOJP or Connétables, with reasonable notice.

Membership applications are to include a standard set of information (as recommended by SoJ Police) and are to be retained by the Club for reference. Any changes in membership form details – address, medical conditions etc – are the responsibility of the individual member to update, in order to ensure that current records are held by the Club.

5. The Club informs the Connétable at the earliest opportunity, of any expulsions or suspensions and, where possible, details of deceased members or members who have permanently retired from the Club and Shooting Sports. The Club also informs the Comité des Connétables of any other matters of concern

6. Applicants for shooting membership will inform the Club if they have ever had an application for a firearm or shotgun certificate refused or had a certificate revoked; and all prospective members and guests, who do not hold a firearms certificate, will sign a declaration that they are not prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

7. The Club has appropriate insurance cover for its membership.

8. The Club may become liable to re-inspection by the States of Jersey Police should discrepancies arise in the administration of Club Certificates.

9. The Clubs will make available for inspection any off-site armouries, or other premises being used by the Club, in compliance with Article 15 (5) of the Firearms (Jersey) Law 2000).

Under Article 15(3), the Minister is required to consult with the Comité des Connétables, prior to granting approval to a club. The Comité has confirmed that they have no objection to the Club being given approval under the Law.

It should be noted that it is not mandatory for all clubs to apply for approval under the Law. If the club does not intend to hold open days or to invite any people to shoot, who do not hold a firearms certificate in their own right, there is no need to seek approval.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Minister grants approval to the Club and instructs the Executive Officer, Home Affairs, to write to the Secretary of the Club to notify them of the approval and to issue the relevant certificate for a period of 6 years.

Executive Officer

Home Affairs

17 September 2015