Firearms offences
The definitive guidelines for sentencing firearms offences were published on 9 December 2020 and come into force on 1 January 2021. The eight guidelines cover offences under the Firearms Act 1968:
- Possession, purchase or acquisition of a prohibited weapon or ammunition
- Possession, purchase or acquisition of a firearm/ammunition/shotgun without a certificate
- Possession of a firearm or ammunition by person with previous convictions prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition
- Carrying a firearm in a public place
- Possession of firearm with intent to endanger life
- Possession of firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence
- Use of firearm or imitation firearm to resist arrest/possession of firearm or imitation firearm while committing a Schedule 1 offence/carrying firearm or imitation firearm with criminal intent
- Manufacture/sell or transfer/possess for sale or transfer/purchase or acquire for sale or transfer prohibited weapon or ammunition
A separate guideline on firearms importation offences was published on 24 November and came into force on 1 January 2022.
Related documents
To support the guidelines and consultations, the Council also publishes a range of documents. These documents may include consultation responses, statistical bulletins, resource and equality impact assessments and guideline assessments.
Related documents: firearms offences
Archived
Previous archived versions of guidelines can be found below:
- Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Firearm, carrying in public place (page 61)