{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/firearms-act-1968/section-4A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/firearms-act-1968/section-4A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1968/27",
  "legislation_title": "Firearms Act 1968",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/firearms-act-1968",
  "path": "section/4A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4A",
  "heading": "Possession of articles for use in connection with conversion",
  "text": "(1) A person, other than a registered firearms dealer, commits an offence if—\n(a) the person has in his or her possession or under his or her control an article that is capable of being used (whether by itself or with other articles) to convert an imitation firearm into a firearm, and\n(b) the person intends to use the article (whether by itself or with other articles) to convert an imitation firearm into a firearm.\n(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—\n(a) on summary conviction—\n(i) in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or, in relation to offences committed before 2 May 2022, 6 months) or to a fine, or to both;\n(ii) in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine, or to both.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 4A inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 2.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 127, 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 4(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 4A(2)(a)(i) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 4A(2)(a)(i) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/27/section/4A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:54:25.041392+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}