§ Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to chief constables regarding the interpretation of section 27(1) of the Firearms Act 1968.
§ Mr. HurdGeneral advice was issued in September 1969 on the administration of the then new Firearms Act 1968, including section 27(1). But individual chief officers are responsible for the discharge of the powers provided for them in the 1968 Act and the interpretation of the Act is a matter for the courts. Under the Act a right of appeal is provided to the courts against decisions by chief officers. Advice about section 27(1) has therefore not been issued since 1969.