Legalities of?

Thoughts of general population.
Firearm certificate holder moves permanent address, Holder books in on a firearm event with his old cert from another county force at an address he no longer resides at, is he committing an offence?
Same person buys primers / powders / loaded ammunition with the old cert any offence?
I fail to notify my change of address to Swansea re licence & logbook, I am committing offences?
Pretty sure one of the conditions on your certificate is that you must notify change of address within 7 days. So if outside of that yes.
 
It's an offense not to update your driving license with new details - up to a grand fine I think. I got stopped one night on way back from solwaystalker's and got a stern talking to for having not updated mine (and I'd been moved about 6 months). The copper kindly let me off as he was more interested in sorting the speeding ticket 😢😢 Worth remembering that you still need to update your V5 and driving licence separately with DVLA - so bloody antiquated!! If you don't then tax reminders etc go to your old (V5 address). Don't ask me how I know...

As for FAC, as others have said, no offense having an old certificate as long as you informed your old licensing team within 7 days that you moved. New licensing authority will be in touch and replace it when they're good and ready ;)
A bloke I know ended up with a ban as he did not respond to speeding, then court summons for not responding, didn’t attend court so tried in his absence. Only found out when stopped by a copper who told him he was banned from driving!!

All because he’d not updated his address so was unaware of any of it!
 
Steve, I assume that it was the force that issued your FAC (Cheshire) that was informed of your change of address and not the North Wales force in whose area that you now reside.
Also, that as there hasn't been a replacement certificate issued by North Wales that the notification and variation was made to Cheshire police.
Correct that you notify change of address to the force in the area that you're moving from, not the area you're moving to. It's then down to them to notify your new area force.
However, any subsequent acquisitions should be notified to the new force, even if they haven't yet got around to issuing an updated certificate.
 
Correct that you notify change of address to the force in the area that you're moving from, not the area you're moving to. It's then down to them to notify your new area force.
However, any subsequent acquisitions should be notified to the new force, even if they haven't yet got around to issuing an updated certificate.
The former county were kind enough to send me over as a "CLOSED condition"!
 
Correct that you notify change of address to the force in the area that you're moving from, not the area you're moving to. It's then down to them to notify your new area force.
However, any subsequent acquisitions should be notified to the new force, even if they haven't yet got around to issuing an updated certificate.
I don't think that's correct Sir.
All your dealings should be with the force that issued your FAC as that is the valid FAC, until such times as it is replaced by a different force.
 
I don't think that's correct Sir.
All your dealings should be with the force that issued your FAC as that is the valid FAC, until such times as it is replaced by a different force.
Pragmatically speaking, if I were in the ‘limbo’ situation described I would probably email both departments to inform of any acquisition or otherwise. I’m aware that this is probably not necessary but as an @rse covering exercise and t would make me feel better…….
 
Pragmatically speaking, if I were in the ‘limbo’ situation described I would probably email both departments to inform of any acquisition or otherwise. I’m aware that this is probably not necessary but as an @rse covering exercise and t would make me feel better…….
So would I.
 
Pragmatically speaking, if I were in the ‘limbo’ situation described I would probably email both departments to inform of any acquisition or otherwise. I’m aware that this is probably not necessary but as an @rse covering exercise and t would make me feel better…….
That makes sense. I would, as an aside, ensure you keep copies of the emails sent. (Note: Some email programs/apps will delete emails after a period). It's not saving the planet I know, but I tend to print out my emails to them for such things as this and telling them I've bought a gun or whatever. Saves the awkward question "oh, I don't think you told us that you got that shotgun, did you?" from the FEO at renewal time.
 
The comments in this discussion are not useful unless backed by reference to legislation of some kind.

I can't find anything in the act referring to change of address, but my licence condition #3 states 'without undue delay' inform the chief officer of police of a change of address. I also can't find a definition of 'undue delay' with respect to firearms licencing, so I guess that's a point you could argue given individual circumstances. The 'chief officer' is for the force in the 'area where you reside', so that could be either depending on if you inform them before or after your move.🤷

So I'd say, no offence on the first two counts, but unless you have a good reason for the delay in notifying them of your new address, you could be charged with an offence for not meeting the conditions of your licence.
 
The comments in this discussion are not useful unless backed by reference to legislation of some kind.

I can't find anything in the act referring to change of address, but my licence condition #3 states 'without undue delay' inform the chief officer of police of a change of address. I also can't find a definition of 'undue delay' with respect to firearms licencing, so I guess that's a point you could argue given individual circumstances. The 'chief officer' is for the force in the 'area where you reside', so that could be either depending on if you inform them before or after your move.🤷

So I'd say, no offence on the first two counts, but unless you have a good reason for the delay in notifying them of your new address, you could be charged with an offence for not meeting the conditions of your licence.
No delay. see above posts
 
The comments in this discussion are not useful unless backed by reference to legislation of some kind.

I can't find anything in the act referring to change of address, but my licence condition #3 states 'without undue delay' inform the chief officer of police of a change of address. I also can't find a definition of 'undue delay' with respect to firearms licencing, so I guess that's a point you could argue given individual circumstances. The 'chief officer' is for the force in the 'area where you reside', so that could be either depending on if you inform them before or after your move.🤷

So I'd say, no offence on the first two counts, but unless you have a good reason for the delay in notifying them of your new address, you could be charged with an offence for not meeting the conditions of your licence.

No while the definition of "without undue delay" isn't specified either in the Firearms Act 1968 or on your FAC both are quite clear and state that any notifications should be made to the Chief Officer of Police who granted the certificate. I think you may have been thinking of the initial grant which should be made in the area in which you reside.
As you say most of this was shown by Atlantoo in his post (#4).
 
It used to be law as I remember a primary principle that anyone committing an offence must do so with Mens Rea or(roughly translated from the Latin) intent. It does however seem that firearms law is aside from that principle so perhaps I am wrong or maybe the interpretation of firearms law is ?
There is of course the counter principle that " ignorance is no defence at law" it would be interesting for someone who knows a bit more than I do to comment on the application of both principles to firearms law.
If you take the case of holding more ammo than is on your ticket, which principle is paramount as there is a case for not having checked the number fully ?
 
Not a specialist but I suspect this is something to do with the fact that all firearms are prohibited but the certificate serve as an exemption to that prohibition.

It is also likely that this is in part due to use of conditions to that exemption. I.e. if you don't comply with the conditions you are no longer exempt and therefore commiting the offence by default.
 
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