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Some
Points of Law
The
legal issues that concern fieldsports in the United Kingdom
generally fall into two categories:
What
follows is a brief summary some of the main points. For a much
fuller explanation, it is recommended that you purchase a copy of
the B.A.S.C.
Handbook of Shooting published
by the British Association of Shooting and Conservation. Click
here to obtain a copy at a discount price.
Not so
very long a go, Britain had fairly liberal laws relating to
fieldsports. Unfortunately, as sucessive governments have steered
the nation ever closer to the "Nanny State" a lot of the
freedom, so valued by country dwellers, has been removed. This page
is concerned only with legal issues. Ehical matters are dealt with
on the Etiquette page.
Protection
of Animals and Birds
The main
legislation concerning wildlife protection is contained in the
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. As far as birds are concerned,
the basic rule is that all wild birds are protected and cannot be
killed. The Act then has a number of Schedules which allow some
named species of birds to be killed during their open seasons or at
any time, by authorised persons, if they are classified as pest
species. see our Quarry Species page for a
list of those birds and our Shooting Seasons
page for details of open and closed seasons.
The
prohibition on killing wild birds also applies to capturing them or
taking their eggs.
Wild
animals that receive special protection are listed in Schedule 5 of
the Act but there are none on the list that are likely to be
regarded as quarry by the sportsman.
Trespass
The laws
surrounding trespass on private land differ in England and Wales, on
the one hand, and Scotland on the other. The import point, which
applies to the entire United Kingdom, is that Armed Trespass, i.e.
unauthorised entry on private land while in possession of an shotgun
or firearm, is a serious criminal offence.
Firearms
Legislation
The laws
are slightly different in respect of Firearms such as sporting
rifles and shotguns. A UK resident wishing to own or possess a
firearm or shotgun must obtain a Firearms Certificate or a Shotgun
Certificate (or both) from his or her local Police Authority. A
visitor to this country must be sponsored by a host and obtain a
Visitor Permit. In all cases the Certificate or Permit will record
the type and serial number of the firearms or guns that the holder
is authorised to possess.
Parts of
the conditions upon which Certificates or Permits are issued relate
to security of the sporting weapons and it is a very serious offence
to fail to keep such weapons secure.
Overseas
visitors should note that a shotgun is classified as a smoothbore
gun with a barrel length of not less than 24". Semi-automatic
shotguns must not have a magazine capacity in excess of two
cartridges. Shotguns with a shorter barrel or a greater magazine
capacity are classified as firearms and are subject to the stricter licensing
regulations.
Handguns
are totally banned in Britain.
The best
source of advice about firearms legislation is the British
Association for Shooting and Conservation who will be happy to
advise members on specific issues.
Return
to British Fieldsports Information Index
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fishing in the UK |
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