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The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

Changes to legislation:

The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 October 2020. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. PART I INTRODUCTORY

    1. 1.Title and commencement

    2. 2.Interpretation

  3. PART II FIREARM CERTIFICATES, ETC.

    1. Firearm certificates

      1. 3.Firearm certificate required

      2. 4.Application for firearm certificate

      3. 5.Grant of firearm certificate

      4. 6.Conditions

      5. 7.Grant of firearm certificate to young persons

      6. 8.Content and duration of firearm certificate

      7. 9.Revocation of firearm certificate

      8. 10.Consequences of revocation

      9. 11.Variation of firearm certificate

      10. 12.Certificate for prohibited weapon

      11. 13.Surrender etc. of firearms on expiration of firearm certificate

    2. Museum firearms licences

      1. 14.Museum firearms licence

    3. Visitor's firearm permits

      1. 15.Visitor's firearm permit

      2. 16.Revocation or variation of visitor's firearm permit

    4. Certificates granted in Great Britain, etc.

      1. 17.Firearm certificate or shotgun certificate granted in Great Britain

      2. 18.Air guns held without a firearm certificate in Great Britain

    5. Issue, etc. of documents for European purposes

      1. 19.Issue of European firearms pass

      2. 20.Duration of European firearms pass

      3. 21.Renewal of European firearms pass

      4. 22.Article 7 authorities

      5. 23.Variation, endorsement, etc. of European documents

  4. PART III FIREARMS DEALERS

    1. 24.Firearms dealer's certificate required

    2. 25.Application for firearms dealer's certificate

    3. 26.Grant of firearms dealer's certificate

    4. 27.Conditions

    5. 28.Content and duration of firearms dealer's certificate

    6. 29.Revocation or variation of firearms dealer's certificate

    7. 30.Consequences of expiration or revocation of firearms dealer's certificate

    8. 31.Places of business: addition to certificate

    9. 32.Places of business: removal from certificate

    10. 33.Consequences where dealer convicted of an offence

    11. 34.Exemptions from Article 24 for auctioneers

    12. 35.Occasional permits

    13. 36.Revocation or variation of occasional permit

  5. PART IV CONTROL OF TRANSACTIONS

    1. 37.Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition

    2. 38.Record of transactions in firearms

    3. 38A.Recording of transactions in firearms by Chief Constable

    4. 39.Transfers of firearms and ammunition to be in person

    5. 40.Notification of dealings involving firearms

    6. 41.Notification of loss, repair or deactivation of firearms, etc.

    7. 42.Notification of disposal or destruction, etc. taking place outside Northern Ireland

    8. 43.Purchase or acquisition of firearms in other member States

    9. 44.Firearms acquired for export

  6. PART V PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN WEAPONS AND CONTROL OF ARMS TRAFFIC

    1. 45.Weapons subject to general prohibition

    2. 46.Exemptions from requirement of authority under Article 45

    3. 47.Possession of firearms on service premises, etc.

    4. 48.Power to prohibit movement of firearms and ammunition

  7. PART VI FIREARMS CLUBS AND SHOTGUN CLUBS

    1. Firearms clubs

      1. 49.Authorisation

      2. 50.Revocation or variation of authorisation

    2. Shotgun clubs

      1. 50A.Authorisation of shotgun clubs to allow use of shotguns by minors for limited purposes

    3. Power of entry

      1. 51.Power of entry

  8. PART VII ENFORCEMENT AND OFFENCES

    1. Enforcement

      1. 52.Power of search with warrant

      2. 53.Powers of constables to stop and search

      3. 54.Production of firearms for ballistic and other tests

      4. 55.Production of certificates, etc.

      5. 56.Police powers in relation to firearms traffic

      6. 57.Seizure and detention of firearms and ammunition

    2. Offences with firearms

      1. 58.Possession with intent

      2. 59.Use of firearm to resist arrest

      3. 60.Carrying firearm with criminal intent

      4. 61.Carrying or discharging firearm in a public place

      5. 62.Trespassing with firearm

      6. 63.Prohibition of possession, etc. of firearm by certain persons

      7. 64.Possession of firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances

      8. 65.Possession of loaded firearm while drunk or under influence of drugs

      9. 66.Supplying firearm or ammunition to person who is drunk, etc.

      10. 66A.Supplying imitation firearms to minors

      11. 67.Conversion of weapons

      12. 68.Defences

    3. General

      1. 69.Prosecution and punishment of offences

      2. 70.Minimum sentence for certain offences

      3. 71.Power by order to exclude application of minimum sentence to those under 18

      4. 72.Forfeiture and disposal of firearms; cancellation of certificate by convicting court

      5. 73.False statements

  9. PART VIII MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL

    1. 74.Appeal from decision of Chief Constable

    2. 75.Fees

    3. 76.Application of Order to imitation firearms which are readily convertible into firearms

    4. 77.Application of Order to Crown servants

    5. 78.Application of certain provisions of this Order to police

    6. 79.Delegation of functions

    7. 80.Regulations and orders

    8. 81.Saving and transitional provisions

    9. Article 82—Amendments and repeals

  10. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      FIREARM CERTIFICATES – EXEMPTIONS

      1. Firearms dealers

        1. 1.(1) The holder of a firearms dealer's certificate may, without...

      2. Auctioneers, carriers and warehousemen

        1. 2.(1) A person carrying on the business of an auctioneer,...

      3. Slaughter of animals

        1. 3.(1) A person who is the holder of a certificate...

      4. Equipment for ships and aircraft

        1. 4.(1) A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, have...

      5. Sporting purposes

        1. 5.A person carrying a firearm or ammunition belonging to another...

      6. Athletics meetings, etc.

        1. 6.A person who has attained the age of eighteen may,...

      7. Firearms clubs

        1. 7.A member of a firearms club which is authorised under...

      8. Recreational facilities

        1. 8.(1) A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, acquire...

      9. Air guns and ammunition

        1. 9.(1) A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, have...

      10. Rifles

        1. 10.(1) A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, borrow...

      11. Shotguns

        1. 11.(1) A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, borrow...

      12. Theatre and cinema

        1. 12.(1) A person taking part in a theatrical performance may,...

    2. SCHEDULE 1A

      Relevant firearms for Article 11(4)(c)

    3. SCHEDULE 2

      FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION IN MUSEUMS

      1. Introductory

        1. 1.(1) In this Schedule— “licence” means a museum firearms licence;...

      2. Museum firearms licences

        1. 2.(1) The Department of Justice may, on an application in...

      3. Variation and revocation

        1. 3.(1) The Department of Justice may by notice in writing...

      4. Secretary of State's power to grant museum firearms licences

        1. 3A.(1) The Secretary of State may, on an application in...

      5. Fees

        1. 4.The appropriate fee shall be payable on the grant of...

      6. Offences and enforcement

        1. 5.(1) It shall be an offence for any of the...

    4. SCHEDULE 3

      RECORD OF TRANSACTIONS

      1. 1.The quantities and descriptions of firearms and ammunition manufactured and...

      2. 2.The quantities and descriptions of firearms and ammunition purchased or...

      3. 3.The quantities and descriptions of firearms and ammunition accepted for...

      4. 4.The quantities and descriptions of firearms and ammunition sold or...

      5. 5.The quantities and descriptions of firearms and ammunition in possession...

      6. 6.References in paragraphs 1 to 5 to a description of...

    5. SCHEDULE 4

      OFFENCES TO WHICH ARTICLE 59(2) APPLIES

      1. 1.Any offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      2. 2.Offences under any of the following provisions of the Offences...

      3. 3.Offences under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions)...

      4. 4.Offences under any of the following provisions of the Criminal...

      5. 5.Offences under Article 172 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland)...

      6. 6.Offences under the Child Abduction (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (NI...

      7. 7.Offences under section 123(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public...

      8. 8.Offences under section 66 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act...

      9. 9.Offences under paragraph 4 of Schedule 11 to the Immigration...

      10. 10.Attempting to commit any offence specified in paragraphs 1 to...

      11. 11.Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of any offence...

    6. SCHEDULE 5

      TABLE OF PUNISHMENTS

    7. SCHEDULE 6

      FEES

      1. Schedule 7—Amendments

      1. Schedule 8—Repeals

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