Legal frame work
General
· Catapults have no legal limit on power, can take almost any form and can be legally bought from any retailer including online stores by persons over 18 years of age.
· There is no law stating that you cannot carry a catapult on your person whether walking through the woods or through a town centre. (
See editor’s note below)
· An offense is only committing if you’re intent is to use the catapult as an offensive weapon. This does not mean that you should carry one without a good reason through a city centre.
· Individual circumstances will be subject to interpretation by a police officer in the event of being stopped. Police have the power to judge whether the carrier is acting lawfully or causing an offence under the
Prevention of Crime Act 1953
Hunting with Catapults
· In order to hunt legally with a catapult the hunter must be a proficient shot. The catapult must have
adequate bands of a sufficient power and
appropriate ammunition (no arrows or darts) to dispatch game.
· The law does NOT state that a catapult cannot be used on common land
Editor’s note: double negative here! I can’t find any definitive statement which prohibits the use of catapults on common land. Caution needed though - not only in assuming the legality of use on common land but also the risk of injuring someone which might result in either criminal or civil action. Avoid shooting across footpaths, roads and regularly frequented public areas
· Catapults can be used on private land with the permission of land owner. They can be used to shoot targets and / or take small game for food.
·
The Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 provides police officers with the powers to prosecute those causing unnecessary and unlawful suffering to wild animals such as hedgehogs, squirrels and foxes (this can also include Squirrels, Rabbits and Hares).
· Under the Act, any person who mutilates, kicks, beats, nails or otherwise impales, stabs, burns, stones, crushes, drowns, drags or asphyxiates a wild mammal with intent to inflict unnecessary suffering is guilty of an offence.
· The maximum penalty is a £5,000 fine and/or six months imprisonment for each offence. The Act gives the courts power to confiscate any vehicle or equipment used in the commission of the offence, and can order their disposal or destruction.
· The Act does allow for certain exceptions. An offence is not committed by someone who:
· kills a wild mammal as an act of mercy if it has been so seriously disabled – other than by an unlawful act – that there is no reasonable chance of its recovery
· Kills, in a swift and humane way, a mammal injured in the course of any lawful activity, such as shooting, hunting, coursing or pest control using snares, traps, dogs, birds or poisons.
Game Seasons –
http://basc.org.uk/shooting/general-licences/