Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997

29Regulations

(1)The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a)prescribe requirements in relation to licensed pistol clubs, the operation of such clubs and the licensed premises of such clubs;

(b)impose obligations on the responsible officer or the persons responsible for the management of a licensed pistol club;

(c)impose obligations on persons who are authorised under section 27(2) above to have a small-calibre pistol in their possession on licensed premises of licensed pistol clubs without holding firearm certificates.

(2)The regulations may provide for breach of any provision made under subsection (1)(b) or (c) above to be an offence punishable on summary conviction with—

(a)imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both; or

(b)such lesser penalty as may be prescribed in the regulations.

(3)The regulations may provide that in any proceedings against a person for an offence under the regulations, it is a defence for him to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

(4)The power to make regulations under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.