William Taylor

William James Taylor history: I was issued my first Shotgun certificate in 1981 and have held one uninterrupted to present day, mostly involved in game shooting. In 1987 I applied for and was granted a sec.1 firearms certificate and joined the local rifle and pistol club, also at that time I was heavily involved in the territorial army and was fortunate enough to be selected to attend and pass a military sniper course at warminster school of infantry and was an active member of all of sections shooting teams. In 1989 I joined the Police with the intention of becoming a firearms officer which I attained on completion of my 2yr probationary period in 1991, 4yrs later I progressed onto the armed response cars and in 1999 became a National Police Firearms Instructor, specialising in personal protection, hostage rescue, tactical rifle officer, a position which led me to work in the Metropolitan police area on a number of occasions with the royal family, members of parliament and also Olympic events until my retirement in March 2020. During my service I was responsible for teaching shooting in pistol, carbine, rifle and shotgun also I was force lead on humane despatch and destruction of dangerous animals requiring me to liaise with the local Zoo’s and other private establishments with large or dangerous game in the northwest area and north wales, in order to coordinate a response should an escape happen. Since retirement I am now directly responsible for the training of zoo staff using bolt action rifles and shotguns with one of those establishments.