Guidance

Guns, knives, swords and other offensive weapons: UK border control

This guidance summarises the requirements, controls and sanctions that Border Force applies to firearms and offensive weapons when they are imported into the UK.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs, Border Force, Department for International Trade and Department for Business and Trade
Published
1 August 2012
Last updated
5 July 2022 — See all updates

Introduction

Border Force works alongside other government departments and agencies to prevent the import of illegal firearms (including their component parts), ammunition and offensive weapons into the UK.

What counts as a firearm

Firearms are lethal barrelled weapons and other weapons including:

  • rifles
  • shotguns
  • handguns
  • automatic and semi-automatic firearms
  • CS gas canisters, pepper sprays and other self defence sprays
  • high voltage electric stun guns
  • high-powered air rifles and pistols
  • items that have the appearance of being a firearm and can be readily converted into a live firearm

Importing firearms and ammunition into the UK

You must meet certain legal requirements in order to lawfully import firearms and ammunition into the UK.

For ammunition and live firearms, you must hold:

  • the relevant import licence or certificate from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

  • Home Office permission for handguns, pistols, revolvers and automatic or semi-automatic firearms

  • permission from your UK regional police authority for other firearms

For deactivated firearms you must hold the relevant import licence from DBT and the firearm must be physically accompanied by an EU deactivation certificate.

Realistic imitation firearms, which are imitation firearms that appear so realistic that you cannot easily tell that they are not real, can only be imported into the UK in certain circumstances. See further information for more details.

Importing knives, swords and other offensive weapons into the UK

Offensive weapons which are designed to kill or inflict serious injury and do not have a legitimate use are banned or restricted from being imported into the UK.

It is an offence to import certain specified weapons including knives, swords and other blades.

Banned knives and weapons

It is illegal to bring into the UK, sell, hire, lend, give or possess in private the following, unless a legal exemption applies:

  • butterfly knives (also known as ‘balisongs’): these have a blade hidden inside a handle that splits in the middle to reveal the blade
  • disguised knives: where a blade or sharp point is hidden inside what looks like everyday objects such as a buckle, phone, brush or lipstick
  • flick knives or gravity knives (also known as ‘switchblades’ or ‘automatic knives’): folding knives where the blade automatically opens or opens by gravity when a button or something else on the knife is pressed
  • stealth knives, which are knives or spikes not made from metal which are not made for use at home, for food or as a toy
  • zombie knives: a knife with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence
  • swords, with a curved blade over 50 centimetres (with some exceptions, such as antiques and swords made to traditional or methods before 1954)
  • sword-sticks: a hollow walking stick or cane containing a blade
  • push daggers: a knife where the handle fits within a clenched fist and the blade protrudes from between two fingers
  • blowpipes (sometimes known as ‘blow guns’): a hollow tube out of which hard pellets or darts are shot by the use of breath
  • telescopic truncheons: these extend automatically by pressing button or spring in or attached to the handle
  • batons: straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheons
  • hollow kubotans: a cylinder-shaped container containing a number of sharp spikes
  • shurikens (also known as ‘shaken’, ‘death stars’ or ‘throwing stars’)
  • kusari-gama: a sickle attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire
  • kyoketsu-shoge: a hook-knife attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire
  • kusari (or ‘manrikigusari’): a weight or hand grip attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire
  • hand or foot-claws: a band of metal or other hard material from which a number of sharp spikes protrude
  • knuckledusters: a band of metal or other hard material worn on one or more fingers
  • cyclone or spiral knives: a blade with one or more cutting edges that form a helix and come to a point
  • belt buckle knife: a buckle which incorporates or conceals a knife

The full description of these weapons may be found in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988.

Flick knives and gravity knives are described in the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959.

The definition of a flick knife has been updated by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.

Circumstances where restricted offensive weapons can be imported

Some organisations are allowed to import and hold restricted offensive weapons for specified purposes, this includes:

  • museums, galleries and universities to present, display, research or interpret material of historic, artistic or scientific interest, such imports may also qualify for relief from duty and VAT
  • HM forces
  • visiting forces
  • police forces and the prison service for example direct imports of batons and truncheons
  • those making commercial imports solely for onward supply to the police or prison service or trade samples to be evaluated - evidence must be produced including a contract stating quantities, where applicable

Restricted offensive weapons may also be imported:

  • for theatrical performances
  • for rehearsals of theatrical performances
  • for the production of films
  • for the production of television programmes
  • if they are stealth knives designed for domestic use or for use in the processing, preparation or consumption of food or are a toy
  • if they were manufactured more than 100 years before the date of any offence alleged to have been committed (excepting flick knives and gravity knives)

Swords with a curved blade of 50cm or more may be imported where the weapon:

  • was made before 1954
  • was made by traditional methods of making swords by hand
  • is only available for the purposes of use in religious ceremonies or for martial arts
  • is for use in a historical re-enactments or sporting activity for example a martial arts demonstration for which public liability insurance is held

If you are importing a restricted offensive weapon you should have evidence to demonstrate why you require it.

If you require further information about the legislation in relation to importation of knives, swords and other offensive weapons, you can email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk

Please note that the Home Office cannot advise on importation of specific items.

The final decision on whether the import is allowed lies with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) when they have an opportunity to see the item.

You may wish to contact the HMRC helpline and provide specifics of the item you want to import. The telephone number of the helpline is 0300 200 3700 and lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Controls and sanctions

Border Force monitors and controls imports of firearms (including their component parts), ammunition and offensive weapons into the UK across all modes of transport and international mail.

If you fail to meet the relevant legal requirements, the item will be liable to forfeiture and will be seized by Border Force. You may also be arrested and prosecuted for importing the item illegally into the UK and/or possessing the item illegally in the UK. The maximum prison sentence is up to 10 years.

Further information about importing firearms

You can find your local police force on the UK police website.

Information about Home Office licensing of firearms is available at Firearms Licensing.

You can enquire about Home Office firearms licensing requirements and legislation by emailing public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Information about DBT import licensing for firearms can be found at Import Controls.

You can apply for a import license for firearms on the DBT Import Licensing Branch’s Import Case Management System.

You can enquire about DBT import licenses by emailing enquiries.ilb@trade.gov.uk.

Guidance for ferry staff and operators about imports of firearms into the UK from the EU.

Updates to this page

Published 1 August 2012
Last updated 5 July 2022 + show all updates

  1. Added to the list of restricted offensive weapons which may be imported: 'if they were manufactured more than 100 years before the date of any offence alleged to have been committed (excepting flick knives and gravity knives)'.

  2. There are new prohibitions relating to the possession of offensive weapons and the importation and supply of cyclone and spiral knives. The public enquiries email address has been updated. The following sections have been updated: importing knives, swords and other offensive weapons into the UK; banned knives and weapons; circumstances where restricted offensive weapons can be imported.

  3. Updated contact details.

  4. Updated guidance.

  5. Importing guidance updated.

  6. Updated guidance.

  7. First published.

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Contents

Part of Get UK customs clearance when importing goods into the UK: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you need to follow this process

    Follow these steps to get your goods for import through UK customs if you’re managing the process yourself.

    Getting customs clearance is complicated. You can hire a transporter or customs agent to make the import declaration and get your goods through UK customs.

    1. Hire someone to deal with customs for you

    Your business must be ready to import the goods before you can get customs clearance.

    1. Find out about importing goods into the UK
    1. Check if you need to make an import declaration

  2. Step 2 Set up your business for making import declarations

    You need an EORI number that starts with GB to import goods into England, Wales or Scotland. You'll need a new one if you have an EORI that does not start with GB.

    If you move goods to or from Northern Ireland you may need one that starts with XI.

    1. Get an EORI number

    Depending on where you're moving goods, you need to be registered on the right systems and have compatible software to make declarations.

    1. Check what systems and software you need to make declarations

  3. Step 3 Check if you can make the customs process quicker

    There are processes that can make clearing customs quicker and easier to manage if you have to make import declarations regularly.

    1. Find out about using simplified declaration procedures
    2. Check if Authorised Economic Operator status is right for you

    If you're importing goods from the EU to England, Scotland or Wales (Great Britain) you might be able to delay making a declaration for up to 6 months.

    1. Check if you can declare your goods later if you're importing goods from the EU

    If you regularly import goods using Common Transit, you can apply to start movements of goods at your own premises.

    1. Check if consignee status is right for your business

  4. Step 4 Register to import goods with restrictions

    You need to register as an importer if you import things like plant or animal products, high-risk food or feed, medicines, textiles, chemicals or firearms.

    Register to import:

  5. Step 5 Check if you need a licence or certificate for your goods

    There are special rules and you may need to get licences or certificates if you are importing any of the following:

  6. and Check the labelling, marking and marketing rules

    1. Check the marking, labelling and marketing standards for food, plant seeds and manufactured goods

  7. Step 6 Arrange for the goods to be inspected

    If you import things like plant or animal products, you need to choose a place where the goods can be inspected. This needs to happen before they’re allowed through the UK border.

    1. Find an inspection point for animals and animal products
    2. Find an inspection point for plants, plant products, seeds and wood
    3. Find an inspection point for high risk food and feed that is not of animal origin
    4. Find an inspection point for endangered species, or products made from endangered plants or animals

    You need to let the inspection point know when the goods are arriving. You might have to pay a fee for the inspection.

  8. Step 7 Submit and manage the import declaration

    1. Find out how to submit import declarations
    2. Find out how to change or cancel an import declaration

    If you're importing goods from the EU to England, Scotland or Wales (Great Britain) you might be able to delay making a declaration for up to 6 months.

    1. Check if you can declare your goods later to make the importing process quicker

  9. Step 8 Pay VAT and duty

    HMRC will tell you how much to pay after you submit the declaration.

    1. Find out how and when to pay VAT and duty

  10. Step 9 Get the goods released if they're held up at the border

    The goods may be held at the border if, for example:

    • you have not paid the right amount of duty or VAT
    • you do not have the right import licences for the goods or business
    • they did not pass inspection
    • they've been combined with a shipment that has been held up

    If this happens you will be told why.

    1. Contact the National Clearance Hub to get help

Also part of