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UK | Ban on knives, firearms and offensive weapons comes into force

The UK Government has announced ban on knives, firearms and offensive weapons vide press release dated July 14, 2021. The provisions are set out in the government’s Offensive Weapons Act, which received Royal Assent in May 2019. From December 2020 to March 2021, the government ran a scheme allowing members of the public to surrender to the police any items that fell within the new ban and claim compensation from the Home Office. Around 14,965 knives and offensive weapons, 1,133 ‘rapid fire’ firearms (as defined within the Offensive Weapons Act) and more than 32,000 items of ancillary equipment were surrendered, with the Home Office receiving and processing 829 claims for compensation.

 

Highlights of the ban are:

 

Also, The Antique Firearms Regulations 2021, introduced in March 2021, provides for the first time a legal definition of ‘antique firearm’ to prevent criminals exploiting a lack of clarity in law to gain possession of such a weapon for use in crime. Owners of firearms which have ceased to be antiques as a result of the 2021 regulations have until 22 September this year to apply to the police for a firearms certificate, which allows them to own these weapons legally. Alternatively, they can surrender, sell or otherwise dispose of the firearm before 22 September.


*Tanvi Singh, Editorial Assistant has put this story together.

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