"Whether we like it or not, if a local force insists on imposing a condition of shooting we have little choice but to comply. "

... and if they ask for Ł10 to cover their expenses, or tell you you can't go shooting, or demand your certificate number, date of birth, Car registered number , serial number of gun used, time of start, time of finish, quarry shot etc. you'll still have no choice but to comply ?

Only the first item hasn't been done - the rest have, and with current police financial constraints - who knows ?

I was a police officer for 32 years, and I was sent to "a man with a gun in a field" many times, but only after I had asked my control room what this man was doing that warranted police attention. Eventually they got the message.

Let's take Devon & Cornwall Police area as an example: There are nearly 40,000 certificates on issue there - if every shooter told the police when they went out (say twice a week) they'd be looking at 80,000 extra calls a week.

Many police forces take a sensible and pragmatic view once they've learned a little about shooting see -
http://www.basc.org.uk/media/guide_to_shooters.pdf