Appeal against conviction following a guilty plea entered after a ruling that section 1(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 created an absolute offence, pleaded guilty on re-arraignment to possessing an altered firearm without a firearm certificate, contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, and possessing a firearm when prohibited, contrary to section 21(1) … Continue reading Gregory, Regina v: CACD 30 Jun 2011
The appellant had been convicted of an offence contrary to section 1 of the 1964 Act, of having been found in possession of drugs. Held: (Reid dissenting) The prosecution had only to prove that the accused knew of the existence of the thing and that it was in general not a defence for him to … Continue reading Warner v Metropolitan Police Commissioner: HL 1968
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Citations: [2004] ScotSC 11 Links: Bailii Statutes: Firearms Act 1968 30A(2) Jurisdiction: Scotland Police, Licensing Updated: 03 August 2022; Ref: scu.195198
Appeal by way of case stated by the Chief Constable of Norfolk against the decision of the Crown Court in which it allowed an appeal against a decision by the Chief Constable to revoke his firearms and shotgun certificates. Judges: Brooke LJ,Blofield J Citations: [1997] EWHC Admin 294, [1997] CLY 4151 Links: Bailii Statutes: Firearms … Continue reading Chief Constable of Norfolk v Edwards: Admn 19 Mar 1997
The equality of maximum sentences between offences does not mean they are of equal seriousness. Possessing a prohibited firearm by a prohibited person is likely to be more serious than possession of a firearm or shotgun without a certificate. Citations: Gazette 21-Apr-1999 Statutes: Firearms Act 1968 1 2 21 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing … Continue reading Regina v Hill: CACD 21 Apr 1999
The Attorney-General appealed against a sentence of six years imposed for several prohibited firearms possession offences. The defendant was looking after items which he understood to be illegal, but whose exact nature he did not know. He had been sentenced as a ‘minder’, not an armourer. Held: The sentence was unduly lenient, and was increased … Continue reading Ralphs, Regina v: CACD 3 Dec 2009
The AG argued that the sentences imposed for conspiracy to possess and distribute prohibited firearms and ammunition, and conspiracy to convert into firearms. They had been produced to sell to drugs dealers to pay of drugs debts. The Crown argued that an effective minimum sentence of five years applied. Held: It was not unusual to … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No 48 and 49 of 2010: CACD 20 Oct 2010
The defendant appealed against refusal of bail. He had failed to attend court in time of the day of his trial and said he had overlooked the date. Held: Collins J said: ‘[T]he question of whether bail should be continued or removed in connection with the main proceedings is a matter which does not depend … Continue reading Wiggins, Regina (on the Application Of) v Harrow Crown Court: Admn 20 Apr 2005
Appeal from conviction for possessing imitation firearm when arrested for theft of a sandwich from a supermarket. Held: ‘the words in section 17 appear to be clear and unambiguous. Subsection (1) is directed to the use of a firearm at the time of arrest. Subsection (2), as the judge said, is directed to the carrying … Continue reading Jones, Regina v: CACD 17 Feb 2000
Appeal from sentence of 5 years for possession of firearm with a barrel less than 30 centimetres in length, contrary to section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. Citations: [2009] EWCA Crim 2600 Links: Bailii Statutes: Firearms Act 1968 5 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 10 June 2022; Ref: scu.430817
Appeal as unduly lenient from sentence of five months imprisonment of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Citations: [2017] EWCA Crim 2305 Links: Bailii Statutes: Firearms Act 1968 16A Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 28 May 2022; Ref: scu.625550
Appeal by case stated from conviction of possession of firearms (air rifles) within five years of release from prison. The court was asked as to whether they were ‘lethal’ Held: The appeal failed: ‘ the Justices were entitled to reach the conclusions they did on the evidence before them. They were entitled to do that … Continue reading Castle v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 12 Mar 1998
The Attorney General referred the sentences as too lenient for armed robbery, and aggravated vehicle taking. The defendants worked as a team, and used an imitation firearm, and threatened a victim with it. Held: The possession of firearms should be regarded as an aggravating feature in relation to other offences. When passing sentence, it is … Continue reading Attorney General’s Reference No 88 of 2002 (Hahn and Webster): CACD 7 Nov 2003
The claimant surrendered guns and ammunition under the 1997 Act, and was due to be compensated. His claim was not settled, and he commenced an action in the County Court for the sums claimed. The defendant denied any duty to pay up within a reasonable period, and asserted that any claim must be by way … Continue reading Steed v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 26 May 2000
Judges: The Lord Burnett of Maldon Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Mr Justice Sweeney And Mrs Justice Heather Williams Citations: [2022] EWCA Crim 463 Links: Bailii Statutes: Firearms Act 1968 5(1)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 30 April 2022; Ref: scu.675604
The defendant appealed against his conviction for possession of two flash eliminators. He said that a crucial decision had not been left to the jury, namely whether the eliminators might have been used to fit to rifles as welll as automatic guns. Held: ‘it is not only impossible to see how the judge’s ruling, had … Continue reading Yong v Regina: CACD 21 May 2015
The claimant had been convicted and served his time for possession of a large collection of obsolete or antique firearms. He now sought their return. The police replied that he was in any event out of time. Held: ‘Section 3(2) of the 1980 Act is, at least in the context of that Act, a somewhat … Continue reading Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis v Meekey: Admn 12 Jan 2021
The defendant who lived in Oxfordshire stored his guns at his mother’s property in Surrey because it was more secure. The magistrates held that he was not in possession of the guns in Oxfordshire. The prosecutor appealed. Held: The appeal succeeded. May J said: ‘In my opinion the purpose of section 1 of the Act … Continue reading Sullivan v Earl of Caithness: QBD 1976
The present appeal turns on the meaning and scope of the concept ‘has in his possession’ in the subsection. Held: The court applied the conclusion stated in Sullivan, stating that the notion of what amounted to possession ought to be consistent across all provisions in the 1968 Act formulated in such terms. Lord Justice Mance, … Continue reading Regina v North: CACD 9 Mar 2001
Short term possession of stun gun The appellant challenged the decision of the justices finding him guilty on summary conviction of an offence of possession of a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of electrical current for incapacitation contrary to s. 5(1)(b) and Schedule 6 of the Firearms Act 1968. The weapon, namely a … Continue reading Jenkins v Director of Public Prosecutions and Another: Admn 22 May 2020
Scots Bills were Outwith Parliament’s Competence The AG questioned the constitutionaliity of Bills designed to give effect to two treaties to which the UK is a signatory, and passed by the Scottish Parliament as to the care of children. Held: The laws had effect also outside Scotland purporting to pre-empt the power of the UK … Continue reading References (Bills) By The Attorney General and The Advocate General for Scotland – United Nations Convention On The Rights of The Child and European Charter of Local Self-Government: SC 6 Oct 2021
Vice-Chancellor was asked to consider whether to strike out a statement of claim based upon alleged misfeasance by a police officer in his public office. The allegation against the police officer was that he had deliberately and falsely supplied details of convictions to the press. The point taken was that it was not concerned with … Continue reading Elliott v Chief Constable of Wiltshire and Others: ChD 20 Nov 1996
