Northern Ireland Orders in Council

"acquire" means hire, accept as a gift or borrow;

"air gun" means a firearm powered by compressed air or compressed gas;

"ammunition" means ammunition for any firearm except blank cartridges which are not more than 25.4 millimetres in diameter measured immediately in front of the rim or cannelure of the base of the cartridge and includes - 

(a) grenades, bombs and other like missiles, whether capable of use with a firearm or not; and

(b) prohibited ammunition;

"another member State" means a member State other than the United Kingdom;

"appropriate fee" shall be construed in accordance with Article 75(2);

"armed forces" means any of the naval, military or air forces of the Crown;

"Article 7 authority" has the meaning given by Article 22(1);

"component part", in relation to a firearm, means - 

(a) any barrel, chamber or cylinder;

(b) any frame, action, body or receiver;

(c) any breech block, bolt or other mechanism for containing the pressure of discharge at the rear of the chamber;

(d) any part of a firearm which directly bears the pressure caused by firing; and

(e) any magazine;

"European firearms pass" has the meaning given by Article 19(2);

"European weapons directive" means the directive of the Council of the European Communities No. 91/477/EEC (directive on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons);

"firearm" means a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged and includes - 

(a) any prohibited weapon, whether it is such a lethal weapon or not;

(b) any component part of such a lethal or prohibited weapon; and

(c) any accessory to any such weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon;

"firearm certificate" means, subject to paragraph (5), a certificate granted under Article 5;

"firearms club" means a club established for the purpose of promoting and practising skill in the use of firearms (other than shotguns) and includes a cadet corps;

"firearms dealer" means a person who by way of trade or business manufactures, sells, transfers, repairs, tests or proves firearms or ammunition;

"firearms dealer's certificate" means a certificate granted under Article 26;

"handgun" means any firearm which either has a barrel less than 30 centimetres in length or is less than 60 centimetres in length overall, other than an air gun, a muzzle-loading firearm or a firearm designed as a signalling apparatus;

"holder of a firearms dealer's certificate" includes a person registered under section 33 of the Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27);

"imitation firearm" means anything which has the appearance of being a firearm, whether or not it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile;

"mental disorder" has the same meaning as in the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (NI 4);

"prohibited weapon" and "prohibited ammunition" respectively mean a weapon and ammunition prohibited under Article 45 (including, in the case of ammunition, any missiles falling within paragraph (2)(g) of that Article);

"readable" means - 

(a) visible and legible; or

(b) capable of being readily produced in a visible and legible form;

"relative", in relation to a person, means - 

(a) the father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, grandmother, grandfather, grandson or granddaughter of that person or of that person's spouse or former spouse, or

(b) the brother, sister, uncle, aunt, niece or nephew (whether of the full blood or of the half blood or by affinity) of that person or of that person's spouse or former spouse,

and includes, in relation to a person who is living or has lived with another person as husband and wife, any person who would fall within paragraph (a) or (b) if the parties were married to each other;

"revolver" means a firearm containing a series of chambers which revolves when it is fired;

"self-loading" and "pump action", in relation to any firearm, mean respectively that it is designed or adapted (otherwise than as mentioned in Article 45(1)(a)) so that it is automatically reloaded or that it is so designed or adapted that it is reloaded by the manual operation of the fore-end or forestock of the firearm;

"shotgun" means a smoothbore firearm with a barrel not less than 60.96 centimetres in length, not being an air gun;

"shotgun certificate" means a certificate granted in Great Britain under section 28 of the Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27) and authorising a person to possess shotguns;

"slaughtering instrument" means a firearm which is specially designed or adapted for the instantaneous slaughter of animals or for the instantaneous stunning of animals with a view to slaughtering them;

"statutory provision" has the meaning given by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33);

"transfer" includes let on hire, give, lend and part with possession;

"visitor's firearm permit" means a permit granted under Article 15(2).

    (3) For the purposes of this Order the length of the barrel of a firearm shall be measured from the muzzle to the point at which the charge is exploded on firing.

    (4) For the purposes of this Order a shotgun or an air gun shall be deemed to be loaded if there is ammunition in the chamber or barrel or in any magazine or other device which is in such a position that the ammunition can be fed into the chamber or barrel by the manual or automatic operation of some part of the firearm.

    (5) In this Order - 

(a) any reference to a firearm certificate includes a reference to a firearm certificate and a shotgun certificate granted under the law in Great Britain and having effect in Northern Ireland by virtue of Article 17; and

(b) any reference to a condition subject to which a firearm certificate is held includes a reference to a condition subject to which a firearm certificate or shotgun certificate is held under the law in Great Britain as that condition has effect in Northern Ireland by virtue of Article 17.

    (6) For the purpose of any reference in this Order to the use of any firearm or ammunition for a purpose not authorised by the European weapons directive, the directive shall be taken to authorise the use of a firearm or ammunition as or with a slaughtering instrument and the use of a firearm or ammunition - 

(a) for sporting purposes;

(b) for the shooting of pests, or, in the course of carrying on activities in connection with the management of any estate, of other wildlife; and

(c) for competition purposes and target shooting (whether or not for competition purposes).

    (7) For the purposes of this Order it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, that a firearm has been rendered incapable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile, and has consequently ceased to be a firearm within the meaning of this Order, if either - 

(a) it bears a mark which - 


(i) has been approved by the Secretary of State for denoting that fact, and

(ii) has been made by a person approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this paragraph; and



(b) that person has certified in writing that work has been carried out in a manner approved by the Secretary of State for rendering it incapable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile,

or it satisfies the requirements of section 8 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (c. 45) (corresponding provision for Great Britain) by virtue of work carried out on or after 1st October 1995.

(a) has in his possession, or purchases or acquires, a handgun without holding a firearm certificate or otherwise than as authorised by a firearm certificate, or

(b) has in his possession, or purchases or acquires, a firearm other than a handgun without holding a firearm certificate or otherwise than as authorised by a firearm certificate,

(a) have in his possession any firearm specified in the permit; and

(b) have in his possession, purchase or acquire any ammunition in accordance with the permit.

    (2) The Chief Constable may, on an application made by a person resident in Northern Ireland on behalf of a person specified in the application, grant a permit (a "visitor's firearm permit") to the specified person.

    (3) An application for a visitor's firearm permit under this Article must - 

(a) be made on a form provided by the Chief Constable for the purpose; and

(b) be accompanied by the appropriate fee (if any).

    (4) The Chief Constable shall not grant a visitor's firearm permit unless he is satisfied that the specified person - 

(a) is visiting or intending to visit Northern Ireland;

(b) has a good reason for having each firearm and the ammunition to which the permit relates in his possession, or, as respects ammunition, for purchasing or acquiring it, while he is a visitor to Northern Ireland; and

(c) may, under the law of the country in which he resides, lawfully possess that firearm and ammunition.

    (5) The Chief Constable shall not grant a person a visitor's firearm permit as respects any firearm or ammunition if he has reason to believe that - 

(a) his possession of the firearm or ammunition in question would represent a danger to public safety or to the peace; or

(b) he is prohibited by this Order from possessing it.

    (6) The Chief Constable shall not grant a visitor's firearm permit as respects any firearm unless - 

(a) there is produced to him a document which - 


(i) has been issued in another member State under provisions corresponding to the provisions of this Order for the issue of European firearms passes;

(ii) identifies the firearm as a firearm to which the document relates; and

(iii) is valid;



(b) the applicant shows that the person specified in the application is a person who, by reason of his place of residence or any other circumstances, is not entitled to be issued with such a document in any of the other member States; or

(c) the applicant shows that the person specified in the application requires the permit exclusively in connection with the carrying on of activities in respect of which - 



(i) that person; or

(ii) the person on whose behalf he is proposing to make use of the authorisation conferred by the permit,



is recognised for the purposes of the law of another member State relating to firearms, as a collector of firearms or a body concerned in the cultural or historical aspects of weapons;

and if, in a case where a document has been produced to the Chief Constable in pursuance of sub-paragraph (a), he grants a visitor's firearm permit, he shall endorse on the document a statement which identifies the permit and the firearm to which it relates and briefly describes the effect of the permit.

    (7) A visitor's firearm permit shall specify - 

(a) the conditions subject to which it is held; and

(b) the number and description of the firearms to which it relates, including their identification numbers and, as respects ammunition, the quantities authorised to be purchased or acquired and to be held at any one time.

    (8) A visitor's firearm permit shall come into force on such date as is specified in it and continue in force for such period, not exceeding twelve months, as is so specified.

    (9) A single application (a "group application") may be made under this Article for the grant of not more than 20 visitor's firearm permits to persons specified in the application if it is shown to the satisfaction of the Chief Constable that their purpose in having the firearms in question in their possession while visiting Northern Ireland is - 

(a) using them for sporting purposes on the same private premises during the same period; or

(b) participating in the same competition or other event or the same series of competitions or other events.

(a) he has provided the Chief Constable with such information about that firearm and ammunition and such other information as the Chief Constable may require; and

(b) he holds a document authorising that possession issued to him by the Chief Constable.

    (2) A Great Britain certificate shall not continue in force in Northern Ireland by virtue of paragraph (1) for a period longer than that for which it was granted or renewed in Great Britain.

    (3) The Chief Constable may at any time require the holder of a certificate of approval to surrender it.

    (4) In this Article - 

"applicable conditions" means the conditions under which the Great Britain certificate is held, subject to such modifications as may be specified in the certificate of approval;

"certificate of approval" means the document issued under paragraph (1)(b);

"Great Britain certificate" means a firearm certificate or shotgun certificate granted in Great Britain;

"modifications" includes additions and omissions.

(a) to which a person is entitled under paragraph (1); and

(b) which contains the particulars required by paragraph (3).

    (3) The particulars required by this paragraph are - 

(a) particulars identifying the person to whom the pass is issued;

(b) particulars identifying every firearm which - 


(i) that person has applied to have included in a European firearms pass; and

(ii) is a firearm in relation to which a firearm certificate granted to that person is in force;



(c) a statement in relation to every firearm identified in the pass as to the category into which it falls for the purposes of Annex I to the European weapons directive;

(d) the date of the issue of the pass and the period from its issue for which the pass is to be valid;

(e) the statements required by paragraph (f) of Annex II to that directive (statements as to travel in the member States with the firearms identified in the pass).

    (4) A European firearms pass shall contain space for the making of entries by persons authorised to so do under the law of any member State.

    (5) A person may make an application under paragraph (1) - 

(a) at the same time as an application for a firearm certificate which will entitle him to the issue of the pass; or

(b) subsequently while the firearm certificate is in force.

(a) manufactures, sells, transfers, repairs, tests or proves any firearm or ammunition; or

(b) exposes for sale or transfer, or has in his possession for sale, transfer, repair, test or proof any firearm or ammunition,

(a) produces a firearm certificate authorising him to purchase or acquire it; or

(b) shows that he is by virtue of this Order entitled to purchase or acquire it without holding a certificate,

shall be guilty of an offence.

    (2) A person who undertakes the repair, test or proof of a firearm or ammunition for any other person in the United Kingdom, other than the holder of a firearms dealer's certificate, unless that other person - 

(a) produces or causes to be produced a firearm certificate authorising him to have possession of the firearm or ammunition; or

(b) shows that he is by virtue of this Order entitled to have possession of it without holding a certificate,

shall be guilty of an offence.

    (3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) have effect subject to any exemption under this Order.

    (4) A person who, with a view to purchasing or acquiring, or procuring the repair, test or proof of, any firearm or ammunition - 

(a) produces a false certificate or other document or a certificate or other document in which any false entry has been made;

(b) personates a person to whom a certificate or other document has been granted; or

(c) knowingly or recklessly makes a statement false in any material particular,

(a) any firearm which is so designed or adapted that two or more missiles can be successively discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger;

(b) any self-loading or pump-action rifle other than one which is chambered for .22 rimfire cartridges;

(c) any self-loading or pump-action smoothbore firearm which is not an air gun or chambered for .22 rimfire cartridges and either has a barrel less than 60.96 centimetres in length or is less than 102 centimetres in length overall;

(d) any smoothbore revolver firearm other than one which is chambered for 9 mm. rimfire cartridges or a muzzle-loading firearm;

(e) any rocket launcher, or any mortar, for projecting a stabilised missile, other than a launcher or mortar designed for line-throwing or pyrotechnic purposes or as signalling apparatus;

(f) any weapon of whatever description designed or adapted for the discharge of electricity or any noxious liquid, gas or other thing; and

(g) any cartridge with a bullet designed to explode on or immediately before impact, any ammunition containing or designed or adapted to contain any such noxious thing as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (f) and, if capable of being used with a firearm of any description, any grenade, bomb (or other like missile), or rocket or shell designed to explode on or immediately before impact,

shall be guilty of an offence.

    (2) Subject to Article 46, a person who without the authority of the Secretary of State has in his possession, or purchases or acquires, or sells or transfers - 

(a) any firearm which is disguised as another object;

(b) any rocket or ammunition not falling within paragraph (1)(g) which consists in or incorporates a missile designed to explode on or immediately before impact and is for military use;

(c) any launcher or other projecting apparatus not falling within paragraph (1)(e) which is designed to be used with any rocket or ammunition falling within sub-paragraph (b) or with ammunition which would fall within that sub-paragraph but for its being ammunition falling within paragraph (1)(g);

(d) any ammunition for military use which consists in or incorporates a missile designed so that a substance contained in the missile will ignite on or immediately before impact;

(e) any ammunition for military use which consists in or incorporates a missile designed, on account of its having a jacket and hard-core, to penetrate armour plating, armour screening or body armour;

(f) any ammunition which is designed to be used with a pistol and incorporates a missile designed or adapted to expand on impact;

(g) anything which is designed to be projected as a missile from any weapon and is designed to be, or has been, incorporated in - 


(i) any ammunition falling within sub-paragraphs (b) to (f); or

(ii) any ammunition which would fall within any of those sub-paragraphs but for its being specified in paragraph (1),



shall be guilty of an offence.

    (3) An authority given to a person by the Secretary of State under this Article shall be in writing and shall be subject to such conditions as may be specified in the authority.

    (4) The conditions of the authority shall include such as the Secretary of State, having regard to the circumstances of each particular case, thinks fit to impose for the purpose of ensuring that the prohibited weapon or ammunition to which the authority relates will not endanger public safety or the peace.

    (5) It is an offence for a person to whom an authority is given under this Article to fail to comply with any of its conditions.

    (6) The Secretary of State may at any time revoke an authority given to a person under this Article by notice in writing requiring him to surrender the authority to such person as may be specified in the notice within 21 days from the date of the notice; and if he fails to comply with that requirement, he shall be guilty of an offence.

    (7) For the purposes of this Article and Article 46 - 

(a) any rocket or ammunition which is designed to be capable of being used with a military weapon shall be taken to be for military use;

(b) references to a missile designed so that a substance contained in it will ignite on or immediately before impact include any missile containing a substance that ignites on exposure to air; and

(c) references to a missile's expanding on impact include its deforming in any predictable manner on or immediately after impact.

(a) attach conditions to an authorisation;

(b) vary or revoke conditions attached under this Article.

    (3) An authorisation shall, unless the Chief Constable revokes it, continue in force for a period of five years from the date on which it is granted.

    (4) The Unlawful Drilling Act 1819 (c. 1) shall not have effect in relation to a firearms club if an authorisation is in force in relation to it.

    (5) Any person who - 

(a) operates, or participates in the activities of, a firearms club for which an authorisation is not in force; or

(b) contravenes any condition of an authorisation,

(a) that an offence under this Order has been, is being or is about to be committed; or

(b) that, in connection with a firearm or ammunition, there is a danger to public safety or to the peace,

he may grant a warrant for any of the purposes mentioned in paragraph (2).

    (2) A warrant under this Article may authorise a constable or a member of the police support staff - 

(a) to enter at any time any premises or place named in the warrant, if necessary by force, and to search the premises or place and every person found there;

(b) to seize and detain anything which he may find there, or on any such person, in respect of which or in connection with which he has reasonable grounds for suspecting - 


(i) that an offence under this Order has been, is being or is about to be committed; or

(ii) that, in connection with a firearm, imitation firearm or ammunition, there is a danger to public safety or to the peace.

(a) by that means to endanger life or cause serious damage to property; or

(b) to enable any other person by that means to endanger life or cause serious damage to property,

shall be guilty of an offence whether any injury to person or any damage to property has been caused or not.

    (2) A person who has in his possession any firearm or imitation firearm with intent - 

(a) by that means to cause; or

(b) to enable another person by that means to cause,

(a) column (3) shows whether it is punishable on summary conviction or on indictment or in either one way or the other; and

(b) column (4) shows the maximum punishment which may be imposed on a person convicted of it in the way specified in column (3).

    (3) In column (4) of Schedule 5 - 

(a) any reference to a period of years or months shall be construed as a reference to a term of imprisonment of that duration; and

(b) any reference to a level shall be construed as a reference to a fine of that level on the standard scale.

    (4) Subject to paragraph (5), summary proceedings for an offence under this Order - 

(a) may be instituted at any time within four years after the commission of the offence; but

(b) shall not be instituted after the expiration of six months from the commission of the offence unless they are instituted by, or by the direction of, the Attorney General.

(a) a refusal to grant or vary any certificate;

(b) a revocation of a certificate;

(c) a condition attached to any certificate or the variation of such a condition;

(d) a requirement to surrender a certificate of approval under Article 17(3) or 18(2);

(e) an order under Article 72(4).

    (4) In this Article - 

"certificate", except in the expression "certificate of approval", includes a permit or authorisation under this Order;

"grant" includes issue;

"revocation" includes - 

(a) in relation to a firearm certificate, partial revocation under Article 9;

(b) in relation to a firearms dealer's certificate, the removal of a place of business under Article 32;

"vary any certificate", in relation to a firearms dealer's certificate, includes adding a place of business under Article 31.

(a) fails to take reasonable precautions for the safe custody of any firearm or ammunition which he or his employee has in his possession and for which he does not require a firearm certificate; or

(b) fails to report immediately to the Chief Constable the loss or theft of any such firearm or ammunition,

shall be guilty of an offence.

"licensed" means licensed under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 558);

"slaughterhouse" includes a knacker's yard; and

"slaughtering instrument" includes ammunition for a slaughtering instrument.

(a) have in his possession on board an aircraft or at an aerodrome a signalling apparatus as part of the equipment of the aircraft or aerodrome;

(b) remove a signalling apparatus which is part of the equipment of an aircraft - 


(i) from one aircraft to another at an aerodrome; or

(ii) from or to an aircraft at an aerodrome to or from a place appointed for its storage in safe custody at that aerodrome,



and keep any such apparatus at such a place.

    (3) If he has obtained a permit from the Chief Constable, a person may, without holding a firearm certificate, remove - 

(a) a firearm from or to a ship; or

(b) a signalling apparatus from or to an aircraft or aerodrome,

to or from a place and for a purpose specified in the permit.

    (4) In this paragraph "firearm" and "signalling apparatus" include ammunition for a firearm or a signalling apparatus, as the case may be.

(a) the air gun is an air pistol capable of discharging a missile so that the missile has, on being discharged, a kinetic energy in excess of 8.13 joules; or

(b) in any other case, the air gun is capable of discharging a missile so that the missile has, on being discharged, a kinetic energy in excess of 16.27 joules.

    (3) In sub-paragraph (1) "recreational facility" means a miniature rifle range, a shooting gallery or a facility for combat games.

    (4) Sub-paragraph (1) is without prejudice to paragraph 9.

    (5) Sub-paragraph (1) so far as it relates to a facility for combat games does not apply in relation to a person who is under the age of 16.

(a) have an air gun in his possession without a firearm certificate unless he has attained the age of 14 or is under the supervision of a person who has attained the age of 21;

(b) purchase an air gun without a firearm certificate unless he has attained the age of 17.

    (4) A person may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in his possession or purchase or acquire ammunition for an air gun.

(a) the occupier or employee in whose presence the rifle is used holds a firearm certificate for it; and

(b) the borrower's possession and use of it complies with any conditions as to those matters in the certificate.

    (2) A person who by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) is entitled without holding a firearm certificate to borrow and use a rifle in another person's presence may also, without holding a firearm certificate, purchase or acquire ammunition for use in the rifle and have it in his possession during the period for which the rifle is borrowed if - 

(a) the firearm certificate held by that other person authorises the holder to have in his possession at that time ammunition for the rifle of a quantity not less than that purchased or acquired by, and in the possession of, the borrower; and

(b) the borrower's possession and use of the ammunition complies with any conditions as to those matters in the certificate.

    (3) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to a person who is under the age of 18.

(a) that person to have possession of the weapon; and

(b) such other persons as that person may select to have possession of it while taking part in the performance or production.

    (4) In this paragraph - 

"film" includes any record, however made, of a sequence of visual images, which is a record capable of being used as a means of showing that sequence as a moving picture; and

"theatrical performance" includes rehearsals.

"licence" means a museum firearms licence;

"museum" includes any institution which has as its purpose, or one of its purposes, the preservation for the public benefit of a collection of historical, artistic or scientific interest which includes or is to include firearms.

    (2) References in this Schedule to the persons responsible for the management of a museum are to the board of trustees, governing body or other person or persons (whether or not incorporated) exercising corresponding functions.

(a) may, without holding a firearm certificate, have in their possession, and purchase or acquire, for the purposes of the museum firearms and ammunition which are or are to be normally exhibited or kept on its premises or on such of them as are specified in the licence; and

(b) if the licence so provides may, without the authority of the Secretary of State under Article 45, have in their possession, purchase or acquire for those purposes any prohibited weapons and ammunition which are or are to be normally exhibited or kept as described in head (a).

    (3) The Secretary of State shall not grant a licence in respect of a museum unless he is satisfied that the arrangements for exhibiting and keeping the firearms and ammunition in question are or will be such as not to endanger public safety or the peace.

    (4) A licence shall be subject to such conditions specified in it as the Secretary of State thinks necessary for securing the safe custody of the firearms and ammunition in question.

    (5) A licence shall (unless revoked or cancelled) continue in force for five years from the date on which it is granted.

    (6) The Secretary of State may by order substitute for the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) such longer or shorter period as is specified in the order.

(a) vary the conditions specified in a licence held in respect of the museum; or

(b) vary the licence so as to extend or restrict the premises to which it applies.

    (2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) the Secretary of State may by notice under that sub-paragraph require the persons in question to produce the licence to him within 21 days from the date of the notice.

    (3) The Secretary of State may by notice in writing to the persons responsible for the management of a museum revoke a licence held in respect of the museum if - 

(a) at any time he is satisfied that the continuation of the exemption conferred by the licence would result in danger to public safety or to the peace; or

(b) those persons or any of them or any employee of theirs has been convicted of an offence under this Schedule; or

(c) those persons have failed to comply with a notice under this paragraph requiring them to produce the licence.

    (4) Where a licence is revoked the Secretary of State shall by notice in writing require the persons responsible for the management of the museum in question to surrender the licence to him.

(a) fail to comply; or

(b) cause or permit another person to fail to comply,

with any condition specified in the licence held in respect of that museum.

    (2) A person who fails to comply with a notice under paragraph 3 shall be guilty of an offence.

    (3) In proceedings against any person for an offence under sub-paragraph (1) it is a defence for him to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

     " 9. An offence under any of the following provisions of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 - 


(i) Article 58(1) (possession of firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property);

(ii) Article 59(1) (use of firearm or imitation firearm with intent to resist arrest);

(iii) Article 59(2) (possession of firearm or imitation firearm when committing or arrested for specified offences) where the specified offence is one under Article 172 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (taking and driving away motor vehicle);

(iv) Article 60 (carrying firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit indictable offence or prevent arrest of self or another);

(v) Article 64 (possession of firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances).".


Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978 (c. 26)

     2. In Schedule 1, for paragraph 15 substitute the following paragraph - 

     " 15. The following offences under the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 - 


(a) an offence under Article 58(1) consisting of a person's having in his possession any firearm or ammunition within the meaning of that Article with intent by that means to endanger life, or to enable another person by that means to endanger life;

(b) an offence under Article 59(1) (use of firearm or imitation firearm to resist arrest) involving the use or attempted use of a firearm within the meaning of that Article.".


Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2)

     3. In section 50(5A)(b), for "Article 6(1)(a), (ab), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a)" and "1981" substitute respectively "Article 45(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (g) or (2)(a)" and "2004".

     4. In Article 68(4A)(b), for "Article 6(1)(a), (ab), (ac), (ad), (ae), or (c) or (1A)(a)" and 1981" substitute respectively "Article 45(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (g) or (2)(a)" and "2004".

     5. In section 170(4A)(b), for "Article 6(1)(a), (ab), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a)" and "1981" substitute respectively "Article 45(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (g) or (2)(a)" and "2004".

" (f) Article 3, 61(2) or 64 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004".


Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 (c. 47)

     7. In the Schedule - 

(a) in the cross-heading preceding paragraph 8, for "1981" substitute "2004";

(b) in paragraph 8, for "Article 22" and "1981" substitute respectively "Article 63" and "2004".

Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (NI 2)

     8. In Article 2(2) - 

(a) in the definition of "ammunition", for "1981" substitute "2004";

(b) in the definition of "firearm", for "1981" substitute "2004".

     9. In Schedule 11, in paragraph 3 for "1981" substitute "2004".

" Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004
     16. Article 58(1) (possession of firearm with intent to endanger life, etc.).

     17. Article 59(1) (use of firearm or imitation firearm to resist arrest).

     18. Article 60 (carrying firearm or imitation firearm with criminal intent).".

(a) in paragraph (a) of the definition of "ammunition", for "1981" substitute "2004";

(b) in paragraph (a) of the definition of "firearm", for "1981" substitute "2004".

     22. In paragraph 8 of the Schedule, after "1981" insert "or a corresponding provision of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004".

" The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004
Article 45(1) (manufacturing, dealing in or possessing certain weapons, etc.).

Article 58(1) (possessing firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property).

Article 59(2) (possessing firearm or imitation firearm at time of committing, or being arrested for, a specified offence).

Article 63(1), (2) or (4) (possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person who has been sentenced to imprisonment, &c.).

Article 64 (possessing firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances).".

     24. In Schedule 9, in Part I, for paragraph 16 substitute the following paragraph - 

" Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/ (N.I. ))
     16. Offences under the following provisions of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 subject to note 1 below - 


(a) Article 24(1) (manufacturing, dealing in, repairing, etc., firearm or ammunition without firearms dealer's certificate),

(b) Article 37(1), (2) or (4) (sale, etc., of firearm or ammunition),

(c) Article 45(1) (manufacturing, dealing in or possessing certain weapons, etc.),

(d) Article 58(1) (possessing firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property),

(e) Article 59 (use or attempted use of firearm or imitation firearm to prevent arrest of self or another),

(f) Article 60 (carrying firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit indictable offence or prevent arrest of self or another),

(g) Article 61 (carrying firearm, etc. in public place) subject to note 4 below,

(h) Article 63 (possession of firearm or ammunition by person who has been sentenced to imprisonment, etc. and sale of firearm or ammunition to such a person),

(i) Article 64 (possessing firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances), and

(j) Article 67 (shortening barrel of shotgun or converting imitation firearm into firearm).".


Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16)

     25. In Schedule 1 (powers of seizure) - 

(a) for paragraph 30 substitute the following paragraph - 


" Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004) (N.I. ))


     30. The power of seizure conferred by Article 52 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (seizure of firearms, etc.).";

(b) for paragraph 80 substitute the following paragraph - 


" Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/ (N.I. ))


     80. The power of seizure conferred by Article 52 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (seizure of firearms, etc.).";

(c) for paragraph 102 substitute the following paragraph - 


" Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/ (N.I. ))


     102. The power of seizure conferred by Article 52 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (seizure of firearms, etc.).".