# Geneva Conventions Act 1957, Paragraph 3


It shall also not be considered as an act harmful to the enemy that civilian civil defence personnel bear light individual weapons for the purpose of maintaining order or for self-defence. However, in areas where land fighting is taking place or is likely to take place, the Parties to the conflict shall undertake the appropriate measures to limit these weapons to handguns, such as pistols or revolvers, in order to assist in distinguishing between civil defence personnel and combatants. Although civil defence personnel bear other light individual weapons in such areas, they shall nevertheless be respected and protected as soon as they have been recognised as such.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/5-6/52/schedule/FIFTH/part/IV/chapter/25/paragraph/3 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/geneva-conventions-act-1957/schedule-FIFTH/part-IV/chapter-25/paragraph-3
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.