Firearms Licensing Administrative and Enquiry Officer

Northumbria Police; North East; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional police force in the North East of England seeks a Firearms Licensing Administrative & Enquiry Officer. This role involves assessing firearms licensing applications, conducting home visits, and providing advice on firearms legislation. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and organisational skills, a full UK driving licence, and a proactive approach to public safety. This permanent position requires a commitment of at least two years to enhance community safety and team stability.

Qualifications

• Possess outstanding written, communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage and prioritise your own workload.
• Proven decision-making skills and ability to apply legislation.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible for the assessment and scrutiny of Firearms Licensing applications.
• Evaluate and assess information to inform the decision-making process.
• Provide specialist advice to internal and external customers in relation to firearms legislation.

Skills

Outstanding written communication

Organisational skills

Ability to manage workload

Decision-making skills

Investigative ability

Full UK driving licence

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Salary: Band 5, £27,531 – £28,653

Location: Bedlington

Hours: 37 hours per week, permanent

The successful candidate will be expected to commit to the position for a minimum of two years.

The role

Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively; think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our Force Coordination and Operations Department as a Firearms Licensing Administrative & Enquiry Officer.

As a Firearms Licensing Administrative & Enquiry Officer you will be part of a small and unique team who undertake all firearms and explosives licensing services, enhancing public safety, managing risk and ensuring firearms are issued and used responsibly and within the law. You will be responsible for the assessing and scrutiny of Firearms Licensing applications; this will include the interrogation of relevant police computer systems and social media sites, identifying risk and offences of non-disclosure and/or certificate breaches.

You will continually evaluate and assess new incidents, intelligence and notifications of change linked to certificate holders, identifying any risk to public safety and the peace and take appropriate and timely action where required. You will be responsible for conducting regular reviews with certificate holders and complete rationale reports to inform the decision-making process. You will be required to attend court as appropriate.

\ will visit applicants and certificate holders at their home addresses to interview them to assess their suitability/continued suitability to possess firearms and inspect the storage and security facilities, making recommendations and advising on security improvements where required.

You will provide and enforce advice to internal and external customers, stakeholders and outside agencies in relation to firearms legislation, relevant acts, the application process, firearms definitions, classifications and safe shooting.

What you’ll do

• Be responsible for the assessment and scrutiny of Firearms Licensing applications.
• Visiting applicants and certificate holders at their home addresses to interview them and inspect security arrangements in line with legislative guidelines.
• Evaluate and assess information to inform the decision-making process.
• You will be required to attend a nationally recognised accredited training courses and engage in continuous personal development.
• Provide specialist advice to internal and external customers in relation to firearms legislation.

What you’ll bring

• Knowledge of a variety of computer systems including Microsoft Office applications.
• You must possess outstanding written, communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage and prioritise your own workload, be self‑motivated and able to work individually but also as part of a team in a fast‑paced and busy environment.
• Ability to risk assess and identify areas of concern, with a proven investigative ability.
• You will have proven decision‑making skills and an ability to apply legislation.
• You will need to possess a full UK driving licence.

We know it’s important for you to feel that you’re not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.

Just so you know

Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Firearms Licensing Administrative & Enquiry Officer with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.

The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form, paper sift, followed by an interview. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.

If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter). You can get in touch with us via [e-mail] for any support regarding the application process.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

Terms of appointment

This is a permanent role subject to a six-month probationary period.

If you are successful in your application, you will have a 6-month probation period during which you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally. We also ask that the successful candidate commits to remaining in post for a minimum of two years to support continuity and stability within the team.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.