Explanatory note

Under section 2(1) of the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (the “1997 Act”) a decommissioning scheme must identify a period during which firearms, ammunition and explosives may be dealt with in accordance with the scheme (the “amnesty period”). Under section 2(2) of the 1997 Act the amnesty period must end before 27 February 2003 or such later day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint. Section 2(3) of the 1997 Act, which restricts the power in section 2(2)(b) to appoint a day by order, was amended by the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning (Amendment) Act 2002 and further by the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 so that the day appointed by order under section 2(2)(b) may be no more than twelve months after the date on which the order was made and no later than 27 February 2010.

The Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/715) appointed 20 February 2008 as the day before which the amnesty period identified in a decommissioning scheme must end. This Order appoints 14 February 2009 as the day before which the amnesty period identified in a decommissioning scheme must end.