57 Interpretation.E+W+S
(1)[In this Act, the expression “firearm” means—
(a)a lethal barrelled weapon (see subsection (1B));
(b)a prohibited weapon;
(c)a relevant component part in relation to a lethal barrelled weapon or a prohibited weapon (see subsection (1D));
(d)an accessory to a lethal barrelled weapon or a prohibited weapon where the accessory is designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon;]
and so much of section 1 of this Act as excludes any description of firearm from the category of firearms to which that section applies shall be construed as also excluding component parts of, and accessories to, firearms of that description.
[(1A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]
[(1B)In subsection (1)(a), “lethal barrelled weapon” means a barrelled weapon of any description from which a shot, bullet or other missile, with kinetic energy of more than one joule at the muzzle of the weapon, can be discharged.
(1C)Subsection (1) is subject to section 57A (exception for airsoft guns).]
[(1D)For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), each of the following items is a relevant component part in relation to a lethal barrelled weapon or a prohibited weapon—
(a)a barrel, chamber or cylinder,
(b)a frame, body or receiver,
(c)a breech block, bolt or other mechanism for containing the pressure of discharge at the rear of a chamber,
but only where the item is capable of being used as a part of a lethal barrelled weapon or a prohibited weapon.]
(2)In this Act, the expression “ammunition” means ammunition for any firearm and includes grenades, bombs and other like missiles, whether capable of use with a firearm or not, and also includes prohibited ammunition.
[(2A)In this Act “self-loading” and “pump-action” in relation to any weapon mean respectively that it is designed or adapted (otherwise than as mentioned in section 5(1)(a)) so that it is automatically re-loaded or that it is so designed or adapted that it is re–loaded by the manual operation of the fore–end or forestock of the weapon.
(2B)In this Act “revolver”, in relation to a smooth-bore gun, means a gun containing a series of chambers which revolve when the gun is fired.]
(3)For purposes of sections 45, 46, 50, 51(4) and 52 of this Act, the offences under this Act relating specifically to air weapons are those under sections [22(4), 22(5), 23(1)] [21A(1A)] [, 24(4) and 24ZA(1)] .
(4)In this Act—
“acquire” means hire, accept as a gift or borrow and “acquisition” shall be construed accordingly;
“air weapon” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(3)(b) of this Act;
...
“area” means a police area;
...
[“British Transport Police Force” means the constables appointed under section 53 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949;]
“certificate” (except in a context relating to the registration of firearms dealers) and “certificate under this Act” mean a firearm certificate or a shot gun certificate and—
(a)
“firearm certificate” means a certificate granted by a chief officer of police under this Act in respect of any firearm or ammunition to which section 1 of this Act applies and includes a certificate granted in Northern Ireland under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1920 or under an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland amending or substituted for that section; and
(b)
“shot gun certificate” means a certificate granted by a chief officer of police under this Act and authorising a person to possess shot guns;
[“civilian officer” means—
(a)
as respects England and Wales—
(i)
a person employed by a chief constable established under section 2 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011,
(ii)
a person employed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, or
(iii)
a person employed by the Corporation of the City of London who is under the direction and control of the Commissioner of Police for the City of London;
(b)
as respects Scotland, a [member of police staff within the meaning of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012] ;]
(4A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5)The definitions in subsections (1) to (3) above apply to the provisions of this Act except where the context otherwise requires.
(6)For purposes of this Act—
(a)the length of the barrel of a firearm shall be measured from the muzzle to the point at which the charge is exploded on firing; and
(b)a shot gun or an air weapon shall be deemed to be loaded if there is ammunition in the chamber or barrel or in any magazine or other device which is in such a position that the ammunition can be fed into the chamber or barrel by the manual or automatic operation of some part of the gun or weapon.
Textual Amendments
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
Marginal Citations