Gun safe inspection and "entrapment"

[JSS]

During the safety course we were told the keys were the same as keeping your car keys in the house with people that aren't allowed to drive. They can know where they are, they just can't use them. I think the "offence" would be the actual opening of the safe by an unlicenced person, not that an unlicenced person had access to your keys.

Don't know about Vic but up here if an unlicenced person knows where your keys are you are done. Basically if they know where your keys are then it's up to them if they want to play with your guns, as the licence holder it's your responsibility to prevent access to your fireamrs by unlicenced people, you don't get to choose who you can trust and who you can't.

Your safe keys are like your porn collection was when you were a kid, you've gotta keep that s**t hidden!!

Can you quote the specific regulation that makes it illegal for any unlicenced person to know the location of your keys?
I still think the offence would be the actual opening of the safe by an unlicenced person, I don't think you could charge somebody simply because somebody else knows where they keep their keys.

It’s “c”. Take all reasonable precautions to ensure .c. That it does not come into the possession of a person who is not authorised to possess a firearm
If you got caught You could try and argue the point with them but I’m pretty sure you’d be doing it while you licence was cancelled and guns taken.

Here’s a cut and paste of the rules.

Storage of weapons

​​In order to complete an application for a licence you need to have access to secure storage facilities for any weapons you might acquire.

This section details:

the requirements that need to be met to ensure safe and secure storage for different licence types and categories of weapons
the process for requesting approval of equivalent safe storage measures
the regulations around the dispatching of weapons
information about the public display of weapons
the requirements for storage away from a secure storage facility; and
information on storing weapons in or on a vehicle
The storage requirements for weapons vary depending on the category of weapon you are holding and the number of weapons you are storing.

Storage - Firearms and Weapons

A person who possesses a firearm must take all reasonable precautions to ensure

a. Its safe storage
b. That it is not stolen or lost
c. That it does not come into the possession of a person who is not authorised to possess a firearm

Firearms Storage Brochure

Section 60 of the Weapons Act 1990 and sections 94-97 of the Weapons Regulations 2016 detail specific requirements relating to storage.

[Peter988]

Had an inspection last week. Police rang in advance and arranged a time. Checked the safe was bolted to the floor and firearm serial numbers matched and off they went. Very polite and professional.

[RoginaJack]

+1, yep do it right, no worries...

[straightshooter]

Can you quote the specific regulation that makes it illegal for any unlicenced person to know the location of your keys?
I still think the offence would be the actual opening of the safe by an unlicenced person, I don't think you could charge somebody simply because somebody else knows where they keep their keys.

Have you ever successfully argued a 'grey area' legality with a policeman.
Without access to zero cost unlimited legal representation why would anybody in their right mind even try?
I don't think it's the knowing of where the keys may be, it's the direction from the policeman that can follow, such as.
"Can you open the safe for me so I can check the serial numbers"
Did you just hear that click. It's the trap snapping shut.

[Justin9mm]

Had my H license for nearly 2 years and my AB for over 6 months. I moved address in August and 2 weeks later two rookie cops, one male, one female knocked on the door at around 8.30pm. My ex mrs answered the door and they said they were looking for me. I came downstairs to the front door and they said they were here for a firearm inspection (my first one). But then the female cop said as they came unannounced they can come back 24 hours later if not convenient. To me this was odd, if I said no, I'm sure I would have had some dodgy mark against my name. I said no all good, you are here now so let's do it. I moved into a brand new house, safe is in double garage, nice Spika safe which is just over 150Kg so no need to bolt down. They didn't care about anything, I explained to them how the garage is locked, only I have the keys, safe the correct weight, I opened the safe showed them the pistol was separated in the pistol compartment etc. They just looked around and as everything seemed to be in order they weren't bothered, all they did was check that the firearms in the safe were the same on their sheet of paper and away they went. Did not ask questions or want to see the storage of my ammunition. I think they are just looking for dodgy people, I don't think they really care about the specifics as long as you look like you are doing the right thing.

[GojiraSteve]

Simmilar story with my inspection as far as quick accommodating and polite conduct from the inspector.

But with a twist. He walks in, looks at his paperwork and says "so it looks like just a .223 and a .22 to look over along with your safe".

In reality there's 2 more rifles in the safe with the .22 and .223 and two pistols in a separate safe. I say "well there's a couple more than that". and he says "oh, the manifest from the registry only lists those two, what else do you have?".

Anyway he inspects the whole lot, takes 5 mins and he goes away. But I've always wondered if it was some kind of test to see if I would open the long gun safe and just "decline to mention" the H cat stuff in the other room.

[Oldbloke]

They just looked around and as everything seemed to be in order they weren't bothered, all they did was check that the firearms in the safe were the same on their sheet of paper and away they went. Did not ask questions or want to see the storage of my ammunition. I think they are just looking for dodgy people, I don't think they really care about the specifics as long as you look like you are doing the right thing.

My experience was very similar except they phoned & I just said come on round.