Part III Regulation of firearms and ammunition

Firearm and shot gun certificates

39F1Computerised register of firearms and shot guns and their holders

(1)

There shall be established a central register of

F2(a)

all persons who have applied for a firearm or shot gun certificate or to whom a firearm or shot gun certificate has been granted or whose certificate has been renewedF3; and

(b)

each firearm to which a firearm certificate or a shot gun certificate relates

F4(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.