The Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1990

Statutory Instruments

1990 No. 2621

ARMS AND AMMUNITION

The Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1990

Made

20th December 1990

Coming into force

2nd April 1991

In exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 6 of the Firearms Act 1968(1), I hereby make the following Order:

1.  This Order may be cited as the Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1990 and shall come into force on 2nd April 1991.

2.  This Order applies to any firearm or ammunition to which section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 (firearms and ammunition requiring firearm certificate) applies.

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, the removal of firearms or ammunition to which this Order applies from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is hereby prohibited unless —

(a) the removal is authorised by the chief officer of police for the area from which they are to be removed and by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and

(b) such conditions as may be imposed by the chief officer of police or the Chief Constable are complied with.

(2) This Order does not prohibit the holder of a firearm certificate (whether issued in Great Britain or Northern Ireland) from carrying with him any firearm or ammunition authorised by the certificate to be so carried.

4.  The Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1975(2) is hereby revoked.

Kenneth Baker

One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State

Home Office

20th December 1990

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is made under section 6 of the Firearms Act 1968 (“the 1968 Act”), as amended by section 20 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (“the 1988 Act”), and replaces the Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1975. The Order prohibits the removal from Great Britain to Northern Ireland of firearms and ammunition to which section 1 of the 1968 Act applies unless the removal is authorised by the chief officer of police for the area from which they are to be removed. In addition, reflecting certain new provisions made by section 20 of the 1988 Act, the Order prohibits any such removal unless it is also authorised by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and complies with such conditions as may be imposed by the chief officer in question or by the Chief Constable. Unlike the 1975 Order this Order does not apply to shot guns or ammunition for shot guns. The Order does not prohibit the holder of a firearm certificate from carrying with him any firearm or ammunition authorised to be so carried.

(1)

1968 c. 27; section 6 was amended by section 20 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (c. 45).

(2)

S.I. 1975/760.