From 31 December 2016, it will be an offence to own or use an air weapon without the proper certificate or permit. This includes buying an air weapon, someone giving one to you, or simply having an air weapon in your possession.
So, if you own an air weapon and want to keep it, make sure you apply for a licence before 1 November to get it in plenty of time for new legislation kicking in later this year.
You must apply by 31 October 2016 to guarantee certification
In accordance with the new Air Weapon legislation coming into effect and in order to guarantee certification by 31 December 2016, members of the public wishing to obtain a certificate for any air weapons(s) MUST have their completed applications form submitted to Police Scotland, by NO LATER than 31 October 2016.
The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 comes fully into effect on 31 December 2016.
The new law will require any person who possesses, purchases, uses or acquires an air weapon to have a certificate to hold them legally.
It will be an offence not to have a certificate for these purposes from 31 December 2016, unless you are exempt, but from 1 July 2016, you will be able to apply to Police Scotland for a certificate.
The new Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act will:
- Clearly define the air weapons which will be subject to licensing
- Broadly follow the principles and practises of existing firearms legislations
- Enable a fit person to obtain a licence to own, possess and shoot an air weapon in a regulated way without compromising public safety
- Ensure appropriate enforcement of the new regime with robust offences and penalties to deal with any person who contravenes the regime
Local Police divisions have designated Police Offices where specially trained officers will be on hand to accept and make safe surrendered air weapons. If you would like to find out more about your local Police Office to surrender an air weapon, you can find this here.
You can contact your local police office by dialing 101.
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