Extra Cabinets Inspection

Hey guys, I am a long time reader, first time poster to this forum.

I have recently installed 2 more gun safes at my property, 2 more of the same case that I had installed previously, screwed up in the same manner as the first right next to it.

Do I need another police inspection? I have called my local firearms office 3 times in the past week and have even left a message. Nobody has responded back to me.

My neighbors call the cops every time I use my firearms (they are rather bitter individuals), so I am hesitant to use my firearms until I am sure my new installation is all legal and good to go.

Any advice on how to book a police check? If I even need one?

Cheers guys!

If you are storing firearms in the new safes you will need an inspection - but if you have informed the police you have done your bit and it's now up to them to actually do the inspection.

Would send them an email so you have a record of informing them and asking for an inspection.

Another option could be to use the change of address form on their website and just use your current address as your new address, it would at least give you a record of trying to notify them. Arse covered and all that

https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-se...-your-firearms

Go here https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/def...e-guidance.pdf
If you have done everything that is required of you, and informed police, don't hassle them. You've done your part - the rest is up to them.

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Originally Posted by imaca

Another option could be to use the change of address form on their website and just use your current address as your new address, it would at least give you a record of trying to notify them. Arse covered and all that

https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-se...-your-firearms

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This seems like a good idea, I will do this. At least then I have it on record that they have been informed. My concern was indeed mostly that I would get a police inspection and, without proof of notice, get in hot water over the changes.

thanks for the advice guys!

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Originally Posted by Cigar

If you are storing firearms in the new safes you will need an inspection

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Where exactly does it say that? All I can find is if you change address you must notify them.

@Bobba nailed it. Email them, and then everyone is on the same page. If you get no response after 2 weeks, email again. After that, using the safe would be very defensible if they ever did bring it up.

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Originally Posted by vulcannz

Where exactly does it say that? All I can find is if you change address you must notify them.

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Arms Regulations Act 1992

(3)
The steps taken under subclause (2) must be approved by a member of the Police following an inspection carried out—
(a)
at the time the holder’s firearms licence is issued (or renewed); or
(b)
during an inspection under section 24B of the Act that includes an inspection of the holder’s steel and concrete strongrooms, storage boxes, cabinets, safes, racks, and similar items, and of the manner in which they are locked and secured on and to the premises.

email police, add receipt required to email would be a good start. that way you have confirmation they have received and confirmed email

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cigar

Arms Regulations Act 1992

(3)
The steps taken under subclause (2) must be approved by a member of the Police following an inspection carried out—
(a)
at the time the holder’s firearms licence is issued (or renewed); or
(b)
during an inspection under section 24B of the Act that includes an inspection of the holder’s steel and concrete strongrooms, storage boxes, cabinets, safes, racks, and similar items, and of the manner in which they are locked and secured on and to the premises.

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Just to clarify...
Section 19 (1) says you must secure your firearms
Section 19 (2) says how you must secure them
Section 19 (3) says how they are secured must be inspected and approved

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Originally Posted by Cigar

Just to clarify...
Section 19 (1) says you must secure your firearms
Section 19 (2) says how you must secure them
Section 19 (3) says how they are secured must be inspected and approved

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So if the manner of securing is identical in the same location he is good to go. He has an approved location and method of securing. The Police are assessing the quality of security, not the quantity of it. The quality has been signed off. Adding an additional one of the same is a non-event from a compliance perspective. Surely. Done the same myself and buggered if I'm asking for an "update" inspection. My security complies as it matches what has been signed off. In fact, i've added capacity before and they never even noticed the next time they came around. We need to stop being silly about this stuff. The legal threshold is reasonableness.

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Originally Posted by Jhon

So if the manner of securing is identical in the same location he is good to go. He has an approved location and method of securing. The Police are assessing the quality of security, not the quantity of it. The quality has been signed off. Adding an additional one of the same is a non-event from a compliance perspective. Surely. Done the same myself and buggered if I'm asking for an "update" inspection. My security complies as it matches what has been signed off. In fact, i've added capacity before and they never even noticed the next time they came around. We need to stop being silly about this stuff. The legal threshold is reasonableness.

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So if you move house you reckon you don't need an inspection? Same thing - your firearm storage is no longer inspected and approved. The safe and easy option is to inform the police then let them worry about it. The regulations say your storage needs to be inspected and approved, and doesn't say there is an exemption if it is the same as what has already been approved.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cigar

So if you move house you reckon you don't need an inspection? Same thing - your firearm storage is no longer inspected and approved. The safe and easy option is to inform the police then let them worry about it. The regulations say your storage needs to be inspected and approved, and doesn't say there is an exemption if it is the same as what has already been approved.

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You're extrapolating from apples to oranges..relocating your storage to a new address is clearly covered by the law and understood by every responsible and reasonable person as required notification and inspection. Dont try and suggest I said otherwise.

Adding a new capacity in the same location to the same standard of both safe and fixing such as has been previously inspected and signed off is an entirely different matter. If you were to downgrade the quality of the security in any way then of course you would require it to be inspected and signed off.

No court in the country is going to raise a question about an installation identical to what has already been approved in the same location
.
However if you relocate your secure storage from out of your inspected approved garage location to your uninspected new dugout mancave under your external deck, at the same address, yes, you're going to need that inspection to be revisited. And don't hold your breath on getting sign-off.

Happy?

The only specific law around changing address is the requirement to let the police know you have changed address - there is no specific requirement for an inspection, it is covered by the same regulation 19(3) requiring storage to be inspected.
All I'm saying is why take the risk when under the wording of the regulations you could end up in trouble? Let the police know what you have done (and they may say "all good, no need to inspect") and your covered. It's not that hard to make a phone call or send an email.

you COULD go one step further and send photos in your email,showing bolts going into wall/floor etc....10-12 gib screws into wall make things very secure even if only 3-4 of them hit wood...another half dozen long suckers into floor and no way will thing move without some serious levering tools and lots of noise .... Ive often contemplated 3" of concrete in bottom of cabinet....remembering all the times we had to shift 380 washing machines and what a mongrel they were to lift. half a concrete post under the floor with bolts through the wire holes would be rather drastic solution too....but not overly hard to do.

What on earth is wrong with your neighbours?

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Originally Posted by Cigar

The only specific law around changing address is the requirement to let the police know you have changed address - there is no specific requirement for an inspection, it is covered by the same regulation 19(3) requiring storage to be inspected.
All I'm saying is why take the risk when under the wording of the regulations you could end up in trouble? Let the police know what you have done (and they may say "all good, no need to inspect") and your covered. It's not that hard to make a phone call or send an email.

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How can you end up in trouble doing something they have already approved?

But hey each to their own.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cigar

The only specific law around changing address is the requirement to let the police know you have changed address - there is no specific requirement for an inspection, it is covered by the same regulation 19(3) requiring storage to be inspected.
All I'm saying is why take the risk when under the wording of the regulations you could end up in trouble? Let the police know what you have done (and they may say "all good, no need to inspect") and your covered. It's not that hard to make a phone call or send an email.

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I believe the requirement to notify police of a change of address is so they can then check your new security arrangements.

Great question and discussion.

I have added safes as I have added firearms and have not had their installation inspected.
In fact when I got my FAL I didn't have a safe as I didn't have any firearms as I didn't have a license.
So none of my safes have been officially inspected.

When my son got his FAL the vetter viewed the safes and didn't check the installation of them.
She did ask why I had ammunition on top of a safe - I didn't as they were boxes of projectiles.
I was shocked to have to explain to an authorised vetter the difference between factory ammunition and projectiles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by imaca

Another option could be to use the change of address form on their website and just use your current address as your new address, it would at least give you a record of trying to notify them. Arse covered and all that

https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-se...-your-firearms

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Did this, took a screenshot when I completed it. Followed up with an email to local arms office, who informed me that they had not received my online change of address notification. Sent the screenshot through, not much was said about that.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you COULD go one step further and send photos in your email,showing bolts going into wall/floor etc....10-12 gib screws into wall make things very secure even if only 3-4 of them hit wood...another half dozen long suckers into floor and no way will thing move without some serious levering tools and lots of noise .... Ive often contemplated 3" of concrete in bottom of cabinet....remembering all the times we had to shift 380 washing machines and what a mongrel they were to lift. half a concrete post under the floor with bolts through the wire holes would be rather drastic solution too....but not overly hard to do.

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Which of course will be very helpful to the gangs when the police leave this information lying around somewhere insecure :D