SCHEDULE 8 Increase in Penalties

Part III Increase in Penalties for Certain Firearms Offences

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Enactment creating offence

Penalty enactment

Old maximum term of imprisonment

New maximum term of imprisonment

FIREARMS ACT 1968 (c.27).

Offences under section 1(1) committed in an aggravated form within the meaning of section 4(4) (possessing etc. shortened shot gun or converted firearm without firearm certificate).

Schedule 6, column 4.

5 years.

7 years.

Offences under section 1(1) in any other case (possessing etc. firearms or ammunition without firearm certificate).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under section 2(1) (possessing etc. shot gun without shot gun certificate).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under section 3(1) (trading in firearms without being registered as a firearms dealer).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under section 3(2) (selling firearms to person without a certificate).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under section 3(3) (repairing, testing etc. firearm for person without a certificate).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under section 3(5) (falsifying certificate, etc., with view to acquisition of firearm).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under section 4(1) (shortening a shot gun).

Schedule 6, column 4.

5 years.

7 years.

Offences under section 4(3) (conversion of firearms).

Schedule 6, column 4.

5 years.

7 years.

Offences under section 5(1) (possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition).

Schedule 6, column 4.

5 years.

10 years.

Offences under section 5(1A) (possessing or distributing other prohibited weapons).

Schedule 6, column 4.

(a) On summary conviction, 3 months.

(b) On conviction on indictment, 2 years.

(a) On summary conviction, 6 months.

(b) On conviction on indictment, 10 years.

Offences under section 19 (carrying loaded firearm other than air weapon in public place).

Schedule 6, column 4.

5 years.

7 years.

Offences under section 20(1) (trespassing with firearm other than air weapon in a building).

Schedule 6, column 4.

5 years.

7 years.

Offences under section 21(4) (contravention of provisions denying firearms to ex-prisoners and the like).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under section 21(5) (supplying firearms to person denied them under section 21).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under section 42 (failure to comply with instructions in firearm certificate when transferring firearm to person other than registered dealer; failure to report transaction to police).

Schedule 6, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

FIREARMS (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1981 (SI 1981/155 (NI 2))

Offences under Article 3(1) (possessing etc. firearms or ammunition without firearm certificate).

Schedule 2, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under Article 4(1) (trading in firearms without being registered as a firearms dealer).

Schedule 2, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under Article 4(2) (selling firearms to person without a certificate).

Schedule 2, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under Article 4(3) (repairing, testing etc. firearm for person without a certificate).

Schedule 2, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under Article 4(4) (falsifying certificate, etc., with view to acquisition of firearm).

Schedule 2, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under Article 5(1) (shortening a shot gun).

Schedule 2, column 4.

5 years.

7 years.

Offences under Article 5(3) (conversion of firearms).

Schedule 2, column 4.

5 years.

7 years.

Offences under Article 6(1) (possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition).

Schedule 2, column 4.

5 years.

10 years.

Offences under Article 6(1A) (possessing or distributing other prohibited weapons).

Schedule 2, column 4.

(a) On summary conviction, 3 months.

(b) On conviction on indictment, 2 years.

(a) On summary conviction, 6 months.

(b) On conviction on indictment, 10 years.

Offences under Article 22(5) (contravention of provisions denying firearms to ex-prisoners and the like).

Schedule 2, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under Article 22(7) (supplying firearms to person denied them under Article 22).

Schedule 2, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.

Offences under Article 43 (failure to comply with instructions in firearm certificate when transferring firearm to person other than registered dealer; failure to report transaction to police).

Schedule 2, column 4.

3 years.

5 years.