Firearms Act 1968

1968 c. 27 · Enacted 30 May 1968 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Contents

1. Part I: Provisions as to Possession, Handling and Distribution of Weapons and Ammunition; Prevention of Crime and Measures to Protect Public Safety
2. General restrictions on possession and handling of firearms and ammunition
3. 1Requirement of firearm certificate.
4. 2Requirement of certificate for possession of shot guns.
5. 2APossession of a sound moderator or flash suppressor
6. 3Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition.
7. 3APossessing component parts of ammunition with intent to manufacture
8. 4Conversion of weapons.
9. 4APossession of articles for use in connection with conversion
10. Prohibition of certain weapons and control of arms traffic
11. 5Weapons subject to general prohibition.
12. 5AExemptions from requirement of authority under s.5.
13. 6Power to prohibit movement of arms and ammunition.
14. Special exemptions from sections 1 to 5
15. 7Police permit.
16. 8Authorised dealing with firearms.
17. 9Carriers, auctioneers, etc.
18. 10Slaughter of animals.
19. 11Sports, athletics and other approved activities.
20. 11AAuthorised lending and possession of firearms for hunting etc
21. 12Theatre and cinema.
22. 13Equipment for ships and aircraft.
23. 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
24. 15Holder of Northern Irish certificate.
25. Prevention of crime and preservation of public safety
26. 16Possession of firearm with intent to injure.
27. 16APossession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
28. 17Use of firearm to resist arrest.
29. 18Carrying firearm with criminal intent.
30. 19Carrying firearm in a public place.
31. 19AHaving small-calibre pistol outside premises of licensed pistol club.
32. 20Trespassing with firearm.
33. 21Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime.
34. 21AFiring an air weapon beyond premises Not yet in force
35. 22Acquisition and possession of firearms by minors.
36. 23Exceptions from s. 22(4).
37. 24Supplying firearms to minors.
38. 24ZAFailing to prevent minors from having air weapons
39. 24ASupplying imitation firearms to minors Not yet in force
40. 25Supplying firearm to person drunk or insane.
41. Part II: Firearm and Shot Gun Certificates; Registration of Firearms Dealers
42. Grant, renewal, variation and revocation of firearm and shot gun certificates
43. 26AApplications for firearm certificates.
44. 26BApplications for shot gun certificates.
45. 26Application for, and grant of, certificates.
46. 27Special provisions about firearm certificates.
47. 27AConditions for storage etc of certain firearms
48. 28Special provisions about shot gun certificates.
49. 28ACertificates: supplementary.
50. 28BCertificates: limited extension
51. 29Variation of firearm certificates.
52. 30ARevocation of firearm certificates.
53. 30BPartial revocation of firearm certificates.
54. 30CRevocation of shot gun certificates.
55. 30DRevocation of certificates: supplementary.
56. 30Revocation of certificates.
57. 31Certificate for prohibited weapon.
58. 32Fee for certificate and exemption from paying it in certain cases.
59. 32ZAFees in connection with authority under section 5
60. ...
61. 32ADocuments for European purposes. Repealed
62. 32BRenewal of European firearms pass. Repealed
63. 32CVariation, endorsement etc. of European documents. Repealed
64. Registration of firearms dealers
65. 33Police register.
66. 34Grounds for refusal of registration.
67. 35Fee for registration and renewal thereof.
68. 36Conditions of registration.
69. 37Registration of new place of business.
70. 38Removal from register of dealer’s name or place of business.
71. 39Offences in connection with registration.
72. Supplementary
73. 40Compulsory register of transactions in firearms.
74. 41Exemption from s. 40 in case of trade in shot gun components.
75. 42Section 42 Repealed
76. 42AInformation as to transactions under visitors’ permits.
77. 42BPermitted electronic means
78. 43Power of Secretary of State to alter fees.
79. 44Appeals against police decisions.
80. 45Consequences where registered dealer convicted of offence.
81. Part III: Law Enforcement and Punishment of Offences
82. 46Power of search with warrant.
83. 47Powers of constables to stop and search.
84. 48Production of certificates.
85. 49Police powers in relation to arms traffic.
86. 50Special powers of arrest. Repealed
87. 51Prosecution and punishment of offences.
88. 51AMinimum sentence for certain offences under s. 5
89. 52Forfeiture and disposal of firearms; cancellation of certificate by convicting court.
90. Part IV: Miscellaneous and General
91. 53Rules for implementing this Act.
92. 54Application of Parts I and II to Crown servants.
93. 55Exercise of police functions.
94. 55AGuidance as to exercise of police functions
95. 56Service of notices
96. 57Interpretation.
97. 57AException for airsoft guns
98. 57BPower to amend section 57(1D)
99. 58Particular savings.
100. 59Repeals and general savings.
101. 60Short title, commencement and extent.
102. Schedule 1: Offences to which section 17(2) applies
103. 1Paragraph 1
104. 2Paragraph 2
105. 2AParagraph 2A
106. 3Paragraph 3
107. 4Paragraph 4
108. 5Paragraph 5
109. 5AParagraph 5A
110. 5BParagraph 5B
111. 5CParagraph 5C Not yet in force
112. 6Paragraph 6
113. 6AParagraph 6A
114. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
115. 8Paragraph 8
116. 9Paragraph 9
117. Schedule 2: Offences to which sections 17(2) and 18 apply in Scotland
118. Common Law Offences
119. 1Paragraph 1
120. 2Paragraph 2
121. 3Paragraph 3
122. 4Paragraph 4
123. 5Paragraph 5
124. 6Paragraph 6
125. 7Paragraph 7
126. 8Paragraph 8
127. 9Paragraph 9
128. 10Paragraph 10
129. 11Paragraph 11
130. 12Paragraph 12
131. 13Paragraph 13
132. Statutory Offences
133. 13AParagraph 13A
134. 13BParagraph 13B Not yet in force
135. 14Paragraph 14
136. 15Paragraph 15
137. 16Paragraph 16
138. 17Paragraph 17
139. 18Paragraph 18
140. Attempts
141. 19Paragraph 19
142. Schedule 3: Jurisdiction and Procedure on application under section 21(6)
143. Part I: Application to the Crown Court (England and Wales)
144. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
145. 2Paragraph 2
146. 3Paragraph 3
147. 4Paragraph 4
148. 5Paragraph 5
149. 6Paragraph 6
150. 7Paragraph 7
151. Part II: Application to Sheriff (Scotland)
152. 8Paragraph 8
153. 9Paragraph 9
154. Schedule 4: Particulars to be Entered by Firearms Dealer in Register of Transactions
155. Part 1: PARTICULARS RELATING TO FIREARMS (OTHER THAN AIR WEAPONS) AND AMMUNITION
156. Note: in this Part references to firearms do not include any firearm to which Part 2 or 3 of this Schedule applies
157. 1Paragraph 1
158. 2Paragraph 2
159. 3Paragraph 3
160. 4Paragraph 4
161. 5Paragraph 5
162. Part 2: PARTICULARS RELATING TO AIR WEAPONS: ENGLAND AND WALES
163. Notes:This Part does not apply in relation to Scotland.In this Part “air weapon” includes any component of, or accessory to, an air weapon.
164. 1Paragraph 1
165. 2Paragraph 2
166. 3Paragraph 3
167. Part 3: PARTICULARS RELATING TO AIR WEAPONS: SCOTLAND
168. 1Paragraph 1
169. 2Paragraph 2
170. 3Paragraph 3
171. 4Paragraph 4
172. 5Paragraph 5
173. Schedule 5: Provisions as to Appeals under s. 44 of this Act
174. ICourts with Jurisdiction to entertain Appeal
175. Part II: Procedural provisions for appeal to the Crown Court
176. 1Paragraph 1
177. 2Paragraph 2
178. 3Paragraph 3
179. 4Paragraph 4
180. 5Paragraph 5
181. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
182. 7Paragraph 7
183. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
184. Part III: Appeals in Scotland
185. 1Paragraph 1
186. 2Paragraph 2
187. 3Paragraph 3
188. 4Paragraph 4
189. Schedule 6: Prosecution and Punishment of Offences
190. ITable of Punishments
191. Part II: Supplementary Provisions as to Trial and Punishment of offences
192. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
193. 2Paragraph 2
194. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
195. 4Paragraph 4
196. 5Paragraph 5
197. 6Paragraph 6
198. 7Paragraph 7
199. 8Paragraph 8
200. 9Paragraph 9
201. Schedule 7.: Repeals