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Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database

Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27)

This version of this statute is extracted from the UK Statute Law Database (SLD). It is not necessarily in the form in which it was originally enacted but is a revised version, which means that any subsequent amendments to the text and other effects are incorporated with annotations.

There are effects on this legislation that have not yet been applied to SLD for the following years: 2008 and 2009. See the Tables of Legislative effects and the Update status of legislation page on the SLD website.

Royal arms

Firearms Act 1968

1968 CHAPTER 27

Contents

Go to Preamble

  1. Part I

    Provisions as to Possession, Handling and Distribution of Weapons and Ammunition; Prevention of Crime and Measures to Protect Public Safety

    1. General restrictions on possession and handling of firearms and ammunition

      1. 1. Requirement of firearm certificate

      2. 2. Requirement of certificate for possession of shot guns

      3. 3. Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition

      4. 4. Conversion of weapons

    2. Prohibition of certain weapons and control of arms traffic

      1. 5. Weapons subject to general prohibition

      2. 5A.Exemptions from requirement of authority under s.5

      3. 6. Power to prohibit movement of arms and ammunition

    3. Special exemptions from sections 1 to 5

      1. 7. Police permit

      2. 8. Authorised dealing with firearms

      3. 9. Carriers, auctioneers, etc

      4. 10. Slaughter of animals

      5. 11. Sports, athletics and other approved activities

      6. 12. Theatre and cinema

      7. 13. Equipment for ships and aircraft

      8. 14.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      9. 15. Holder of Northern Irish certificate

    4. Prevention of crime and preservation of public safety

      1. 16. Possession of firearm with intent to injure

      2. 16A. Possession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence

      3. 17. Use of firearm to resist arrest

      4. 18. Carrying firearm with criminal intent

      5. 19. Carrying firearm in a public place

      6. 20. Trespassing with firearm

      7. 21. Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime

      8. 21A.Firing an air weapon beyond premises

      9. 22. Acquisition and possession of firearms by minors

      10. 23.Exceptions from s. 22(4)”

      11. 24. Supplying firearms to minors

      12. 24A.Supplying imitation firearms to minors

      13. 25. Supplying firearm to person drunk or insane

  2. Part II

    Firearm and Shot Gun Certificates; Registration of Firearms Dealers

    1. Grant, renewal, variation and revocation of firearm and shot gun certificates

      1. 26A. Applications for firearm certificates

      2. 26B. Applications for shot gun certificates

      3. 27. Special provisions about firearm certificates

      4. 28.Special provisions about shot gun certificates

      5. 28A. Certificates: supplementary

      6. 29. Variation of firearm certificates

      7. 30A. Revocation of firearm certificates

      8. 30B. Partial revocation of firearm certificates

      9. 30C. Revocation of shot gun certificates

      10. 30D. Revocation of certificates: supplementary

      11. 31. Certificate for prohibited weapon

      12. 32. Fee for certificate and exemption from paying it in certain cases

    2. Issue etc. in Great Britain of documents for European purposes

      1. 32A. Documents for European purposes

      2. 32B. Renewal of European firearms pass

      3. 32C. Variation, endorsement etc. of European documents

    3. Registration of firearms dealers

      1. 33. Police register

      2. 34. Grounds for refusal of registration

      3. 35. Fee for registration and renewal thereof

      4. 36. Conditions of registration

      5. 37. Registration of new place of business

      6. 38. Removal from register of dealer’s name or place of business

      7. 39. Offences in connection with registration

    4. Supplementary

      1. 40. Compulsory register of transactions in firearms

      2. 41. Exemption from s. 40 in case of trade in shot gun components

      3. 42.

      4. 42A. Information as to transactions under visitors’ permits

      5. 43. Power of Secretary of State to alter fees

      6. 44. Appeals against police decisions

      7. 45. Consequences where registered dealer convicted of offence

  3. Part III

    Law Enforcement and Punishment of Offences

    1. 46. Power of search with warrant

    2. 47. Powers of constables to stop and search

    3. 48. Production of certificates

    4. 49. Police powers in relation to arms traffic

    5. 50. Special powers of arrest

    6. 51. Prosecution and punishment of offences

    7. 51A.Minimum sentence for certain offences under s. 5

    8. 52.Forfeiture and disposal of firearms; cancellation of certificate by convicting court

  4. Part IV

    Miscellaneous and General

    1. 53. Rules for implementing this Act

    2. 54. Application of Parts I and II to Crown servants

    3. 55. Exercise of police functions

    4. 56. Service of notices

    5. 57. Interpretation

    6. 58. Particular savings

    7. 59. Repeals and general savings

    8. 60. Short title, commencement and extent

  5. SCHEDULE 1

    Offences to which section 17(2) applies

  6. SCHEDULE 2

    Offences to which sections 17(2) and 18 apply in Scotland

  7. SCHEDULE 3

    Jurisdiction and Procedure on application under section 21(6)

  8. SCHEDULE 4

    Particulars to be Entered by Firearms Dealer in Register of Transactions

  9. SCHEDULE 5

    Provisions as to Appeals under s. 44 of this Act

  10. SCHEDULE 6

    Prosecution and Punishment of Offences

  11. SCHEDULE 7.

    Repeals

An Act to consolidate the Firearms Acts 1937 and 1965, the Air Guns and Shot Guns, etc. , Act 1962, Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 and certain enactments amending the Firearms Act 1937.

[30th May 1968]

Annotations:

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Act extended by S.I. 1972/971, Sch. 1

C2Act extended with modifications by Firearms Act 1982 (c. 31, SIF 51:1), s. 1(2)

C3Act amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (c. 45, SIF 51:1), ss. 8, 25(4)

Act amended (1.7.1997) by 1997 c. 5, s. 48(a); S.I. 1997/1535, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I

Act amended (prosp.) by 1997 c. 5, ss. 12(2), 53(3) (which amending s. 12(2) was repealed (17.12.1997) by 1997 c. 64, s. 2(7), Sch.; S.I. 1997/3114, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I)

C4Definitions of "ammunition" and "firearm" in this Act applied (E.W.) (25.10.1991) by Deer Act 1991 (c. 54, SIF 4:3), ss.16, 18(3)

C5By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), S. 101(1), Sch. 12 para.23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch.1 it is provided (14.10. 1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of s. 70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 Act, to youth courts shall be construed as references to juvenile courts.

C6Act applied (1.7.1997) by 1997 c. 5, s. 50(2)(3); S.I. 1997/1535, art. 3, Sch. Pt. I

Commencement Information

I1Act wholly in force at 1.8.1968, see s. 60(2)

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