Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997

26 Revocation of licence

(1) The Secretary of State may at any time, if he thinks fit, revoke a licence by notice in writing—

(a) to the responsible officer of the club;

(b) to the persons, or any of the persons, for the time being responsible for the management of the club.

(2) Where a licence is revoked the Secretary of State shall by notice in writing—

(a) require the person or persons notified to surrender the licence to him forthwith;

(b) require the person or persons notified to deliver forthwith into the custody of the chief officer of police for the area in which the premises are situated any small-calibre pistols stored on the club premises;

(c) require the responsible officer to surrender to him the register kept by him under section 28 below (or, if the register is kept by means of a computer, a copy of the information comprised in the register in a visible and legible form) within 21 days from the date of the notice.

(3) Where the licence of a licensed pistol club is revoked by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) above, notice shall be given to each member of the club holding a firearm certificate or visitor’s firearm permit—

(a) informing the member that the licence has been revoked; and

(b) if the chief officer thinks fit, requiring the member to deliver up his firearm certificate or, as the case may be, his visitor’s firearm permit within 21 days of the date of the notice, for the purpose of amending it.

(4) A notice under subsection (3) above to a member of a pistol club whose licence has been revoked shall be given by the chief officer of police who granted the certificate or permit to that member.

(5) The holder of a firearm certificate or a visitor’s firearm permit granted in respect of a small-calibre pistol which is required by the certificate or permit to be kept at the licensed premises of a licensed pistol club shall not be guilty of any offence under this Act or the 1968 Act by reason only that the pistol continues to be kept at those premises after the licence has been revoked and before the pistol is delivered into police custody in accordance with a notice under subsection (2) above.

(6) A small-calibre pistol delivered into police custody by virtue of a notice under subsection (2) above shall not be released to any person except on the authority of the chief officer of police into whose custody it was delivered.

(7) The 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 to the chief officer for the release of the pistol (whether to him or to a person nominated by him).

(8) When such an application is made the chief officer of police may require such written statements, from any person, as he considers necessary for the purpose of determining the application.

(9) A person who fails to comply with a notice under subsection (2) or (3) above commits an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.