Sell or dispose of a firearm

Before you sell or dispose of a firearm or shotgun, there are some steps you need to take.

Selling a firearm

You must make sure the buyer has the correct permissions to own the firearm. Check the authority on their firearm certificate.

You should demonstrate due diligence by carrying out checks to make sure that the buyer's firearm certificate is genuine.

Their certificate will state the quantity, type and calibre of firearm they can own. It will also state the amount of ammunition they can own.

On the back of the buyer's certificate, you'll need to complete:

• Table 1 (for firearms) or
• Table 2 (for shotguns)

Once you've sold the firearm or shotgun you need to tell the police force who issued your certificate. You can do this online using our transfer ownership form.

Disposal of a firearm

Never throw away weapons, as they could fall into the wrong hands.

If you have a firearm or shotgun that you wish to dispose of, you must do so in one of the following ways.

Firearms dealer or certificate holder

You can give your firearm or shotgun to either a:

• registered firearms dealer
• firearms certificate holder (only if they have the authority to carry that type of weapon)

Once you've done that, you'll need to let us know by using our online form.

Police

If you'd like to surrender a firearm or shotgun to the police, you can call 101 or contact us online. We'll tell you the best course of action.

Please do not bring your firearm to a police station unless we've asked you to. Keep the firearm secure and do not move it until instructed.

Do not worry if you have a weapon that you should not own. You are acting responsibly by choosing to hand it in. No action will be taken against you. It's only if you choose to keep the weapon that you then risk prosecution.