Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997

Release of pistols in police custody

4 A small-calibre pistol being kept in police custody shall not be released to any person except on the authority of the chief officer of police for the area in which the designated police station to which it was delivered under paragraph 2 above is situated.

5 (1) Any holder of a firearm certificate relating to the pistol, or any other person who may lawfully have the pistol in his possession, may apply in writing for the release of the pistol to the chief officer of police for the area in which the designated police station to which it was delivered under paragraph 2 above is situated.

(2) An application under sub-paragraph (1) above must be made at least four weeks before the end of the transitional period.

6 If the applicant for release is the person who delivered the pistol into police custody, the chief officer of police shall release the pistol if he is satisfied that the person receiving it—

(a) is authorised to convey the pistol to the licensed premises of a licensed pistol club by a permit under section 13 on behalf of a holder of a firearm certificate held subject to the conditions specified in section 12 and who—

(i) is a member of the licensed pistol club specified in the certificate;

(ii) has made arrangements for the pistol to be kept at the licensed premises of that club which are so specified,

(b) is the holder of a firearm certificate authorising him to have the pistol in his possession, but which is not subject to those conditions;

(c) is entitled to have the pistol in his possession without a firearm certificate.

7 (1) Where a person other than the person who delivered the pistol into police custody applies for it to be released, the chief officer of police shall release the pistol only if he is satisfied—

(a) that the person who originally delivered the pistol into that custody has either disposed of any interest in it or certified that he is content for it to be delivered to the applicant; and

(b) that the person receiving the pistol is either a registered firearms dealer who has lawfully purchased or acquired the pistol and intends to have it in his possession in the ordinary course of his business or a person falling within paragraph 6(a), (b) or (c) above.

(2) Where an application is made as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above, the chief officer of police may require such written statements from the person who delivered the pistol into police custody and from the person applying for the release of the pistol as he considers necessary for the purpose of determining the application.

(3) It is an offence for any person knowingly or recklessly to make a statement which is false in any material particular for the purpose of procuring, whether for himself or for another person, the release of a pistol from police custody.

(4) An offence under sub-paragraph (3) above shall be punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.