Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997

34 Notification of de-activation, destruction or loss of firearms etc. E+W+S

(1) Where, in Great Britain—

(a) a firearm to which a firearm or shot gun certificate relates; or

(b) a firearm to which a visitor’s firearm or shot gun permit relates,

is de-activated, destroyed or lost (whether by theft or otherwise), the certificate holder who was last in possession of the firearm before that event shall within seven days of that event give notice of it to the chief officer of police who granted the certificate or permit.

(2) Where, in Great Britain, any ammunition to which section 1 of the 1968 Act applies, and a firearm certificate or a visitor’s firearm permit relates, is lost (whether by theft or otherwise), the certificate or permit holder who was last in possession of the ammunition before that event shall within seven days of the loss give notice of it to the chief officer of police who granted the certificate or permit.

(3) A notice required by this section shall—

(a) describe the firearm or ammunition in question (giving the identification number of the firearm if any);

(b) state the nature of the event;

and any such notice shall be sent [F1 by permitted means].

[F2 (3A)   A notice is sent by permitted means for the purposes of subsection (3) if it is sent—

(a) by registered post;

(b) by the recorded delivery service; or

(c) by permitted electronic means (see section 35A).]

(4) A failure, without reasonable excuse, to give a notice required by this section shall be an offence.

(5) For the purposes of this section and section 35 below a firearm is de-activated if it would, by virtue of section 8 of the 1988 Act be presumed to be rendered incapable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 34(3) substituted (1.4.2011) by Firearms (Electronic Communications) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/713), arts. 1(1), 4(3)(a)

F2 S. 34(3A) inserted (1.4.2011) by Firearms (Electronic Communications) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/713), arts. 1(1), 4(3)(b)