Paramilitary Training Activity in Kent History of Section 5 Firearms Issues considered by Home Office

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Dear Home Office,

Would you please disclose all Section 5 Firearms reports and decisions relating to the following events:

(1) Circa 1970 reports re a Ramsgate gun club firing at a chalk quarry using burst firing Russian assault rifles.

(2) Circa 1982 Reports from Brigadier Harvey concerning military training, conducted without Crown Authority, at Deal Royal Marines Barracks

(3) Circa 1982 case, bullets posted to Kent residents in an alleged threat campaign associated with alleged armed training in Kent woodland by a far right group

(4) Circa 1986 reports from Permanent Staff Instructors of territorial Army in Kent that TA HSF soldiers, from a Broadstairs unit, were unlawfully using Merweorth MOD training area with weapons they were not entitled to.

(5) 1987 Arrests of 21 Broadstairs based TA HSF men for paramilitary activity contrary to the Unlawful Drilling Act 1819. especially given that one arrested man was an associate of a Kent based Section 5 firearms dealer.

(6) Two range licence withdrawals of 6th Thanet Gun Range Birchington Kent for "The wrong weapons in use at the range". Followed inexplicably by the re-issue of a range licence whereupon complaints of Section 5 machine gun fire arose again !!

Yours faithfully,

Richard Card

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Please find attached our response to your request.

 

Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

 

 

 

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Dear FOI Responses,

Thank you for your response. Brigadier HAGUE withdrew the range licence three times. There is no history of authorized military use of the range. For high velocity or section 5 machine gun fire the range would need an extended range safety area etc. This range was only planning consent and freeholder consented for max calibre .22.

The Secretary of State for Defence clarified to my MP some time ago that James SHORTT had no Crown (MOD) authority to conduct military training. SHORTT's organisations allegedly used two ranges in Kent with the alleged involvement of police. Stone Lodge and 6th Thanet.

The first two times that Brig HAGUE withdrew the range licence it was for wrong types of weapon in use. Clearly this was not MOD authorized as it was MOD withdrawing the licence !

It was inevitable surely that on at least those two occasions Kent Police would have referred Section 5 issues to the Home Office ? Are you saying that Kent Police never made any such referral ?

If this is so then it is not without precedent in this history. For example after the arrests of the 21 TA soldiers for paramilitary activity in Kent 1987 concerned persons (including me) raised security warnings about Deal Royal Marines Barracks.

These warnings included about a man with a false REME Record of Service having gained work as a Reliance Guard at Deal Barracks. Clearly the crime complaint intended (but not recorded by Kent Police) was of obtaining employ by deception.

The fact is the man left reliance with a good reference at the time Kent Police declared their inquiry complete. April 1989.

On 22nd Sept 1989 the terrorist bomb exploded at Deal barracks killing 11 Royal Marines.

In 1998 I contacted REME Corps Secretariat and was told that the check raised by me was the first check against the former Reliance Guards claimed army service.

So once again it seems Kent Police failed to raise proper inquiry outside their own organisation.

When REME did carry out the check at my request they chose to call in MOD Police.

So would you clarify that no Section 5 issues have been raised by Kent Police concerning paramilitary activity in the county using Deal Barracks and Kent ranges and Kent woodland etc.

Thank you in anticipation

Yours sincerely,

Richard Card

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Please find attached our response to your request.

           

Home Office

2 Marsham Street

London SW1P 4DF

 

 

 

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Dear FOI Responses,

Thank you for your response. You are, however, factually incorrect. The position of Kent Police is that they deemed the matters do not merit inquiry.

This was the position reported by Jack STRAW to Ann WIDDECOMBE MP many years ago as well.

The decisions of Mike FULLER Chief constable to refuse to investigate were taken in 2009. This was subjected to Judicial Review by me. The Judicial Review File was stolen from the Registry of Royal Courts of Justice. I reported this fact to Lord PHILLIPS of Maltravers (Monarch in Parliament).

Mike FULLER left Kent Police Feb 2010 I think.

After the decision by FULLER to stop inquiries by Chief Supt HOGBEN the latter truned his attention on the TRUE family. This was the family who owned land adjoining the former 6th Thanet Range. They had called in Brig HAGUE over Kent Chief constable head in 95 to get the range licence withdrawn.

As I understand it in 2010 Justin TRUE brought an action for abuse of process in 2010 when defending a case brought by Chief Supt HOGBEN

Justin detailed how he had been issued up to 80 HORT1 producers per year for 15 years since his father closed the 6th Thanet Range used by off duty police. As I understand it at the final Crown Court hearing of charges brought against Justin ... no police witnesses turned up to face cross examination (which would have included 6th Thanet Range issues) and CPS withdrew.

So yes I would like an internal review.

You have had cited to you TWO attempts to gain a Judicial determination of the facts. First the Judicial review which was stolen. Second the abuse of process matter brought in Justin TRUE's defence which Kent Police dodged.

Perhaps it is easier to lie to the Home Office than on oath to a Judge ?

Yours sincerely,

Richard Card

FOI Responses, Home Office

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Dear FOI Responses,

It is important I think that I should add that retd Det Chief Supt BIDDIS sent a report to Kent Police Professional Standards last year.

He was case officer for the 1996 murder in Ramsgate of 6th Thanet Gun range member, retired MI5 officer Ken SPEAKMAN.

The matters include allegations that the murder inquiry team had material facts concealed from it by other Kent Police. Matters pertaining to 6th Thanet Gun Range.

You may recall that retired Mr BIDDISS had then gone public making similar allegations concerning his investigation of Kenny NOYE for the murder of Stephen CAMERON.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Card

FOI Responses, Home Office

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Mr Card,

 

Please see attached regarding your Internal Review request.

 

FOI TEAM

Information Services Centre

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

 

E - [1][Home Office request email]

 

 

 

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FOI Responses, Home Office

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Dear Mr Card,

 

Please find attached the internal review regarding case 25010.

 

 

J. Millar

Information Access Consultant

 

Information Management Service (IMS) | Shared Services Directorate |
Financial & Corporate Services Group
Ground Floor | Seacole Building | Home Office | 2 Marsham Street | London
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