Air weapon licensing in Scotland: guide

Appendix 5: Conditions

Regulation 9 of the Air Weapons Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2016 prescribes mandatory conditions which must be attached to certain certificates, permits or approvals.

These are set out in schedule 2 to the 2016 Regulations:

Prescribed Mandatory Conditions

This schedule has no associated Policy Notes

1. For the purpose of section 6(1) of the 2015 Act - air weapons certificates - the prescribed mandatory conditions are that the holder of an air weapon certificate must:

(a) on receipt of the certificate, sign it in ink; and

(b) as soon as reasonably practicable, notify the chief constable of any change of the address specified on the certificate.

2. For the purpose of section 15(1) of the 2015 Act – police and visitor permits - the prescribed mandatory conditions are that the holder of a police permit or visitor permit must:

(a) on receipt of the permit, sign it in ink; and

(b) as soon as reasonably practicable, notify the chief constable of any change of the address specified on the permit.

3. For the purpose of section 18(4) of the 2015 Act – air weapon club approvals - the prescribed mandatory conditions are that:

(a) the club secretary or other officer named on an approved air weapon club's approval must, on receipt of the approval, sign it in ink;

(b) the approved air weapon club must, as soon as reasonably practicable, notify the chief constable of any change of the club's address; and

(c) the approved air weapon club's approval (or a copy of it) must be prominently displayed at the club premises, at all times that target shooting is taking place there, so as to be capable of being read by anyone using the club's facilities.

Other conditions

The Chief Constable may also attach one or more "discretionary" conditions to the certificate (or permit). A list of suggested conditions is set out below:

Air Weapon Certificates

Condition Description:
Condition Text:

(a) The air weapon held under authorisation provided by this certificate must at all times (except in the circumstances set out in paragraph (b) below), be stored securely so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, access to the air weapon by an unauthorised person.

(b) Where an air weapon held under authorisation provided by this certificate is in use or the holder of the certificate has the air weapon with him/her for the purposes of cleaning, repairing or testing it or for some other purpose connected with its use, transfer or sale, or the air weapon is in transit to or from a place in connection with its use or any such purpose, reasonable precautions must be taken for the safe custody of the air weapon.

Condition Description: General Condition
Condition Text: The air weapon shall be used for the safe shooting of all lawful quarry, and for zeroing and practice on ranges and land, over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot.

Condition Description: Target Shooting - Club
Condition Text: The air weapon shall be used for target shooting, only whilst a member of <<CLUB>> is in attendance, and only on ranges suitable for the safe use of that class of air weapon and with adequate financial arrangements in place to meet any injury or damage claim.

Condition Description: Target Shooting
Condition Text: The air weapon shall be used only for target shooting on ranges suitable for the safe use of that class of air weapon and with adequate financial arrangements in place to meet any injury or damage claim.

Condition Description: Recreation
Condition Text: The air weapon shall be used only for recreational target shooting on land suitable for the safe use of that class of firearm which would not create a danger to others, and on which the holder has lawful authority to shoot.

Condition Description: Collection – Not to be fired.
Condition Text: The air weapon must be possessed, purchased or acquired by the holder of the certificate only for the purpose of its being kept or exhibited as part of a collection. Not to be fired.

Condition Description: Collections - To Be Fired
Condition Text: The air weapon must be possessed, purchased or acquired by the holder of the certificate only for the purpose of its being kept or exhibited as part of a collection. The weapon may also be used for target shooting, on ranges which are legally and safely constructed and maintained.

Condition Description: Historical Re-enactment
Condition Text: The air weapon shall be used only in connection with displays, battle re-enactments and demonstrations under the supervision of appointed officers of the <<FREETEXT>>.

Condition Description: Theatrical Use
Condition Text: The air weapon shall be used only in a theatrical or television performance or rehearsal of such a performance or the production of a film. The holder of this certificate shall recover the air weapon(s) after each performance, rehearsal or production in which the air weapon(s) is/are being used by persons taking part.

Condition Description: Treating Animals
Condition Text: The air weapon shall be used only in connection with the purpose of tranquillising or otherwise treating an animal.

Condition Description: Employment
Condition Text: The holder of this certificate may use air weapon that is the property of <<FREETEXT>>, only in connection with the certificate holder's employment. The weapon may also be used for relevant training purposes, as well as zeroing and practice on ranges and land over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot, when attributed to their employment.

Condition Description: Employment – Not to be Fired
Condition Text: The holder of this certificate may possess air weapon that is the property of <<FREETEXT>>, only in connection with the certificate holder's employment. May not be fired.

Visitor Permits

Condition Description: Mandatory
Condition Text: The holder of this permit must, on written request, return the permit to the chief officer of police without delay.

Condition Description: Target Shooting
Condition Text: The air weapon to which this permit relates shall be used only at [place of event/use or event(s)] [name of event(s)/competition(s)] or target shooting on ranges suitable for the safe use of that class of air weapon and with adequate financial arrangements in place to meet any injury or damage claim.

Condition Description: Land
Condition Text: The air weapon to which this permit relates shall be used only on [land over which shooting is to take place].

Condition Description: Land Enhanced
Condition Text: The air weapon to which this permit relates shall be used only on [land over which shooting is to take place] and on other land over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot.