The Firearms Regulations 2015

Amendments to the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 and transitional provision

2.—(1) Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997(1) (register of holders of shot gun and firearm certificates) is amended as follows.

(2) For the heading, substitute “Computerised register of firearms and shot guns and their holders”.

(3) In subsection (1) the words following “of” become paragraph (a) and at the end of that paragraph insert—

“; and

(b) each firearm to which a firearm certificate or a shot gun certificate relates”.

(4) For subsection (2) substitute—

“(2) The register shall—

(a) record a suitable identifying number for each person to whom a certificate is issued;

(b) be kept by means of a computer which provides access on-line to all police forces;

(c) record for each firearm to which a firearm certificate or a shot gun certificate relates—

(i) the type, make, model, calibre and serial number of the firearm;

(ii) the name and address of the holder of the certificate who acquires or possesses the firearm;

(iii) the name and address of the person from whom the holder of that certificate purchased or acquired the firearm; and

(iv) where the holder of that certificate sells or transfers the firearm, the name and address of the person to whom it is sold or transferred; and

(d) be structured so as to ensure that such records are maintained for not less than twenty years beginning with the date that they are first entered onto the register.

(3) For the purposes of this section a firearm certificate or shot gun certificate does not relate to a firearm solely because it authorises the purchase or acquisition of the firearm by the holder of the certificate, if the holder of the certificate has not purchased or acquired the firearm.

(4) In subsection (2)(c)(iii) and (iv) “name and address” means name and address at the time of the purchase, acquisition, sale or transfer.”.

(5) Section 39(2)(c)(iii) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 as substituted by this regulation does not apply where the firearm was purchased or acquired before the coming into force of these Regulations.

(1)

1997 c. 5.