This Order amends the Firearms Act 1968, the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 and the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 (“the Firearms Acts”).

The Order enables certain notices which are required to be sent to the chief officer of police under those Acts to be sent by an electronic communication where certain conditions are met.

The Order also enables a chief officer of police, the Secretary of State or Scottish Ministers to send a notice required or authorised by the Firearms Act 1968 using an electronic communication where certain conditions are met. The subject matter of the Firearms Acts is a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998, but certain functions under the Firearms Acts, some of which involve the giving of notices, were transferred to Scottish Ministers under the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1750).

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the Home Office.