The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Specification for Imitation Firearms) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations prescribe the specifications that imitation firearms must conform to, pursuant to paragraph 7(A1) of Schedule 2 to the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”). The underlying purpose is to prevent imitation firearms from being converted into functioning firearms.

Under paragraph 7(2)(a) to (c) of Schedule 2 to the 2006 Act, a person is guilty of an offence if they: manufacture an imitation firearm which does not conform to the prescribed specifications; modify an imitation firearm so that it ceases to conform; or modify a firearm to create an imitation firearm that does not conform.

Regulation 3(1) sets out the specifications for blank-firing imitation firearms.

Regulation 3(3) sets out the specifications for blank-firing imitation revolvers.

An Impact Assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as it has no or minimal impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies. A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside the Regulations on www.legislation.gov.uk.