Citation and commencement

1.  These Rules may be cited as the Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2014 and shall come into force on 20th May 2014.

Amendment to the Firearms Rules 1998

2.  The Firearms Rules 1998(2) are amended as follows.

3.  In rule 3 (firearm certificates), omit paragraph (2).

4.  In rule 4 (referees: firearm certificates)-

(a)omit paragraph (1);

(b)in paragraph (3), omit the words "subject to paragraph (4) below,".

5.  In rule 5 (shotgun certificates)-

(a)omit paragraph (2);

(b)for paragraph (3)(a), substitute-

"(a)the name and address of a person who has agreed to act as a referee, and who satisfies the requirements of rule 6(2) below, and".

6.  In rule 6 (verification of application: shotgun certificates)-

(a)for the heading, substitute "Referee: shotgun certificate";

(b)omit paragraph (1).

7.  In rule 7 (photographs to accompany application), for paragraph (1), substitute-

"(1) The photographs referred to in rules 3(3)(b) and 5(3)(b) above shall, in the case of each application, be four identical unmounted photographs showing the current true likeness of the applicant and measuring 45mm by 35mm, of which one shall be signed in ink, on the back of the photograph, with the applicant's usual signature."

8.  In Schedule 1 (form of application for firearm and shotgun certificates, and firearm certificate)-

(a)for the form in Part 1 (application for the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate), substitute the form in Schedule 1 to these Rules (application for the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate);

(b)for the certificate in Part II (firearm certificate), substitute the certificate in Schedule 2 to these Rules (firearm certificate);

(c)for the form in Part IV (application to vary a firearm certificate), substitute the form in Schedule 3 to these Rules (application to vary a firearm certificate).

General

9.  An application for a firearm certificate or a shotgun certificate may continue to be made using an application form which is replaced by virtue of rule 8(a) above if it is received by the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant resides on or before 20th June 2014.

10.  An application to vary a firearm certificate may continue to be made using an application form which is replaced by virtue of rule 8(c) above if it is received by the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant resides on or before 20th June 2014.

Rule 8(a)

SCHEDULE 1Application for the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate

Rule 8(b)

SCHEDULE 2Firearm Certificate

Rule 8(c)

SCHEDULE 3Application to vary a firearm certificate

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules make a number of amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998 (S.I. 1998/1941).

Rules 3 to 7 make changes to the rules relating to referees for applications for firearm certificates and shotgun certificates. Under the new arrangements, referees will no longer have to provide any signed statements, nor will they have to sign in ink on the back of a photograph to confirm that the photograph is a true likeness of the applicant. The purpose behind these changes is to allow for a move towards a fully electronic application process, in order to increase efficiency.

Rule 8 replaces two existing prescribed forms and one existing prescribed certificate with new prescribed forms and a new prescribed certitficate. The purpose of making these changes is to ensure that the forms concerned are sufficiently clear for the user, and to correct some minor errors in the text.

Rules 9 and 10 make provision to enable chief officers of police to process applications which are made using the old forms that are to be replaced, provided that the application concerned is submitted on or before 20th June 2014.