All disposals
Firearms· Firearms Act 1968
Section 5 — Weapons subject to general prohibition
Possession, purchase, acquisition, manufacture, sale or transfer of prohibited weapons (e.g. fully automatic firearms, handguns, certain self-loading rifles, disguised firearms) without authority of the Secretary of State.
Penalty reference
- Mode of trial
- Indictable only
- Maximum penalty
- LIFE imprisonment. MINIMUM 5 years (adults) / 3 years (16–17) under s.311 Sentencing Act 2020 unless exceptional circumstances.
- Out-of-court eligibility
- ✕ CR✕ Caution✕ Cond. Caution
Note: Always CPS charge; counter-terrorism implications possible.
Triage the circumstances
Quick answers — the engine applies the College/CPS hard rules.
Need a refresher on the terms? See the Glossary.