The Firearms Regulations 2019

Notification of deactivated firearms

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person commits an offence if—

(a) the person is in possession of a deactivated firearm;

(b) the person does not give notice of the deactivated firearm to the appropriate national authority in accordance with paragraph (3), and

(c) where the deactivated firearm has been transferred to the person, the person who transferred it has not given notice of the transfer in accordance with regulation 2 (notification of transfers of deactivated firearms).

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply if the person is in possession of the deactivated firearm for a period of 14 days or less.

(3) Notice for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) must—

(a) be given—

(i) on or before the day on which the person first possesses the deactivated firearm, or

(ii) as soon as reasonably practicable after that date;

(b) describe the deactivated firearm, including by giving, if known, the make, calibre and serial number;

(c) state the person’s name and address, and

(d) be sent by registered post, by recorded delivery or by email to a postal or electronic address published pursuant to paragraph (4).

(4) The appropriate national authority must publish a postal address and an electronic address to which a notice given in accordance with paragraph (3) may be sent.

(5) In proceedings for an offence under this regulation against any person to whom a deactivated firearm has been transferred, it is a defence for the person to show that the person reasonably believed that the transferor had given, or would give, notice of the transfer in accordance with regulation 2.

(6) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale;

(b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale;

(c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.