• Possession of a gun/ammunition without a certificate

• Possession of an imitation firearm

• Carrying a gun to endanger life or cause harm, fear or violence towards another person

• Illegal conversion of weapons for example converting something into a weapon or shortening the length of the barrel

• Illegal importation of weapons.

Offences involving firearms are very serious, with some firearms offences having a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years imprisonment. The sentence will be dependent on what you are charged with, the seriousness of the crime and your involvement.

The Judge will consider various factors when sentencing such as:

Involvement in the crime - premeditated crimes will result in a higher sentence Type of weapon - imitation or actual firearm? Has the weapon been modified? Modified weapons typically have a higher sentence. Was the firearm loaded at the time of the offence? If the weapon was not loaded this could be a mitigating factor. Level of remorse Previous convictions - if an individual has a criminal record for violent crimes, they will typically receive a higher sentence. Cooperation with the police and their investigations Any learning disabilities or disorders. If you are convicted of a firearms offence, this will be noted on your CRB and a police record will be kept. Dependent on the sentence, this could remain on your record.

If you're under investigation for a firearms offence, complete our online enquiry form here and our expert firearms offence solicitors will be in touch.

If you enter a guilty plea early in the investigation, up to and including the first hearing, you could have your sentence reduced by one third. The later you enter a guilty plea, the smaller the reduction in sentence will be.

If the offence was a one-off isolated incident, you could have your sentence reduced. Our firearms offence solicitors will work closely with you to build a strong defence and reduce the sentence you may be facing.