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Firearms Act 1968
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Changes over time for: Section 44
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Firearms Act 1968, Section 44 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 January 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 44:
- s. 3A inserted by 2023 c. 49 s. 2
- s. 11(3A)-(4A) substituted for s. 11(4) by 2023 c. 49 s. 1(2)
- s. 51(2A) added by 1997 c. 48 s. 62(1) Sch. 1 para. 3
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 3A inserted by 2023 c. 49 s. 2
- s. 11(3A)-(4A) substituted for s. 11(4) by 2023 c. 49 s. 1(2)
- s. 51(2A) added by 1997 c. 48 s. 62(1) Sch. 1 para. 3
[F144 Appeals against police decisions.E+W+S
(1)An appeal against a decision of a chief officer of police under section 28A, 29, 30A, 30B, 30C, 34, 36, 37 or 38 of this Act lies—
(a)in England and Wales, to the Crown Court; and
(b)in Scotland, to the sheriff.
(2)An appeal shall be determined on the merits (and not by way of review).
(3)The court or sheriff hearing an appeal may consider any evidence or other matter, whether or not it was available when the decision of the chief officer was taken.
[F2(3A)The court or sheriff hearing an appeal must have regard to any guidance issued under section 55A that is relevant to the appeal.]
(4)In relation to an appeal specified in the first column of Part I of Schedule 5 to this Act, the third column shows the sheriff having jurisdiction to entertain the appeal.
(5)In Schedule 5 to this Act—
(a)Part II shall have effect in relation to appeals to the Crown Court; and
(b)Part III shall have effect in relation to appeals to the sheriff.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 44 substituted (1.7.1997) by 1997 c. 5, s. 41(1); S.I. 1997/1535, art. 3(b), Sch. Pt. I
F2S. 44(3A) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 133(3), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 32
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