The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

Northern Ireland Order in Council 2004 No. 702 — creates 62 criminal offences.

Made

10 March 2004

In force from

Not determined

Extent

Not stated

Subject

Firearms, offensive weapons, explosives and poisons

Made under

2000 (c. 1), Schedule to the Northern Ireland Act 2000

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

This Order repeals and replaces the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (NI 2). Part I is introductory. Part II provides for firearm certificates and other documents authorising the possession, purchase and acquisition of firearms and ammunition. Part III provides for firearms dealer’s certificates and permits authorising dealing in firearms and ammunition on one or more occasions at a place of business not specified in a firearms dealer’s certificate. Part IV regulates certain transactions with firearms and ammunition, requiring a firearms dealer to keep a record of transactions and requiring the Chief Constable to be notified of certain transfers and other matters relating to firearms and ammunition. Part V places a prohibition on certain weapons and confers certain powers on the Secretary of State. Part VI requires firearms clubs to be authorised. Part VII provides powers of enforcement, offences with firearms and the powers of the courts with regard to offences under the Order. Part VIII provides for appeals from decisions of the Chief Constable, fees, and other miscellaneous and general matters.

Offences created by this instrument

• SCHEDULE 1 SCHEDULE 1 · Status not determined · Objective fault
• Consequences of revocation article 10(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Surrender etc. of firearms on expiration of firearm certificate article 13(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Visitor’s firearm permit article 15(10) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Revocation or variation of visitor’s firearm permit article 16(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Renewal of European firearms pass article 21(4) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Variation, endorsement, etc. of European documents article 23(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Firearms dealer’s certificate required article 24(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Conditions article 27(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Firearm certificate required article 3(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Firearm certificate required article 3(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Occasional permits article 35(9) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Revocation or variation of occasional permit article 36(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition article 37(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition article 37(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition article 37(4) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
• Business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition article 37(5) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Record of transactions in firearms article 38(7) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
• Transfers of firearms and ammunition to be in person article 39(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Notification of dealings involving firearms article 40(4) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Notification of loss, repair or deactivation of firearms, etc article 41(5) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Notification of disposal or destruction, etc. taking place outside Northern Ireland article 42(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Notification of disposal or destruction, etc. taking place outside Northern Ireland article 42(4) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Firearms acquired for export article 44(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Weapons subject to general prohibition article 45(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Weapons subject to general prohibition article 45(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Weapons subject to general prohibition article 45(2)(g) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Weapons subject to general prohibition article 45(5) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Weapons subject to general prohibition article 45(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Power to prohibit movement of firearms and ammunition article 48(4) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Authorisation article 49(5) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Power of entry article 51(2) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
• Powers of constables to stop and search article 53(1) · Status not determined · Objective fault
• Powers of constables to stop and search article 53(1)(b) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Powers of constables to stop and search article 53(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Powers of constables to stop and search article 53(5) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Production of firearms for ballistic and other tests article 54(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Production of certificates, etc article 55(4) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Production of certificates, etc article 55(5) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Possession with intent article 58(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Possession with intent article 58(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Use of firearm to resist arrest article 59(1) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
• Use of firearm to resist arrest article 59(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Conditions article 6(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Carrying firearm with criminal intent article 60(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Carrying or discharging firearm in a public place article 61(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Carrying or discharging firearm in a public place article 61(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Trespassing with firearm article 62(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Trespassing with firearm article 62(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Prohibition of possession, etc. of firearm by certain persons article 63(6) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Prohibition of possession, etc. of firearm by certain persons article 63(8) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Possession of firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances article 64(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Possession of loaded firearm while drunk or under influence of drugs article 65 · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Supplying firearm or ammunition to person who is drunk, etc article 66 · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Conversion of weapons article 67(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Conversion of weapons article 67(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Conversion of weapons article 67(4) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• In relation to an offence under a provision of this Order specified in column (1) of Schedule 5 (the general nature of… article 69(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• a column (3) shows whether it is punishable on summary conviction or on indictment or in either one way or the other;… article 69(2)(a) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Forfeiture and disposal of firearms; cancellation of certificate by convicting court article 72(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• Forfeiture and disposal of firearms; cancellation of certificate by convicting court article 72(2)(c) · Status not determined · Strict liability
• False statements article 73(1) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind

What Parliament said about it

Contributions, debates and written statements mentioning this instrument by name. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

• Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 Lords · Lords Chamber · 2 March 2004
• Offensive Weapons Bill Lords · Grand Committee · 6 February 2019 · The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe) (Con)

  My Lords, my noble friend Lord Lucas began by quite rightly pointing out that this is a Bill about setting boundaries. As we have heard, this group of amendments deals with what is the appropriate form of regulation for high muzzle energy rifles. We have heard a variety of views from all sides of the Committee. Some noble Lords are seeking to restore the prohibition of these rifles removed from the Bill in the Commons. Other noble Lords are seeking to go further than the amendments made in the Commons by also removing the prohibition on so-called MARS rifles, while yet other noble Lords seek…

• Criminal Justice Bill (Fifth sitting) Commons · Public Bill Committees · 11 January 2024 · Chris Philp

  I will briefly respond to one or two of the points the shadow Minister raised. We engaged with the devolved Administrations both at an official level and through correspondence. I am glad to say that they were pretty keen to ensure that the new offences applied in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As the shadow Minister said, it is very important to ensure that serious criminals have no part of the United Kingdom in which they can operate. I am glad to observe generally that despite political differences, particularly with the nationalists in Scotland, we have a relatively good relationship on…

• Sentencing Bill Commons · Commons Chamber · 21 October 2025 · The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Caroline Nokes)

  With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Amendment 47, page 1, line 14, after “months” insert “before any credit is given for a guilty plea”. The presumption for a suspended sentence would apply to sentences before credit is given for a guilty plea. Amendment 50, page 1, line 17, after “order” insert “with the maximum operational period”. This would mean that all suspended sentences given in place of immediate custody would be suspended for the maximum period. Government amendments 2 and 3. Amendment 48, page 3, line 8, after “individual” insert “or the public”. The…

• Sentencing Bill Commons · Commons Chamber · 29 October 2025 · Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)

  With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: New clause 2— Re-sentencing those serving a sentence of imprisonment for public protection — “(1) The Lord Chancellor must make arrangements for, and relating to, the re-sentencing of all prisoners serving IPP sentences within 18 months beginning on the day on which this Act is passed. (2) Those arrangements must include arrangements relating to the establishment of a committee to provide advice regarding the discharge of the Lord Chancellor’s duty under subsection (1). (3) The committee established by virtue of subsection (2) must…

How Parliament handled it

Parliament's Statutory Instruments service records procedure from May 2017 onwards, and this instrument predates it. That is a limit of the source, not a statement that nothing happened.

Check the source

• This instrument on legislation.gov.uk The authoritative text, including amendments made since
• Other instruments from 2004