Possession of Ammunition Without Certificate (Section 1(1)(b) Firearms Act 1968)

Possession of Ammunition Without Certificate is an offence under s.1(1)(b) Firearms Act 1968. Subject to any exemption under the Act, it is an offence for a person to have in his possession, or to purchase or acquire, any ammunition to which s.1 applies without holding a firearm certificate in force at the time, or otherwise than as authorised by such a certificate, or in quantities in excess of those so authorised (s.1(1)(b)). The section applies to any ammunition for a firearm except cartridges containing five or more shot none of which exceeds .36 inch in diameter, ammunition for an air gun, air rifle or air pistol, and blank cartridges not more than one inch in diameter (s.1(4)); "ammunition" means ammunition for any firearm and includes grenades, bombs and other like missiles, whether capable of use with a firearm or not, and also includes prohibited ammunition (s.57(2)). Maximum sentence: on conviction on indictment, 5 years or a fine, or both, or 7 years or a fine, or both, where the offence is committed in an aggravated form within the meaning of s.4(4); on summary conviction, 6 months or a fine of £400, or both, as the text of Schedule 6, Part I reads.

In practice

This is an either-way offence: it may be tried at the magistrates' court or the Crown Court. Mode of trial depends on the seriousness and the defendant's election. Firearms must be made safe by a trained officer before being handled. Continuity of the exhibit from scene to storage is essential. Check the National Firearms Licensing Management System for any certificates or previous incidents. The suspect must be cautioned in accordance with Code C PACE 1984 before any questions about the offence are put to them. Interviews must be audio-recorded (Code E) or, for indictable offences, may be visually recorded (Code F).