Has anyone tested the new British Customs Policy?

[bendyzaius]

I read the announcement that the UK would be changing their policy and banning the import through the postal system of anything that resembles a gun, toy or otherwise, starting in October. I was wondering if anyone had noticed a change. Has anyone tried to get things through and had them confiscated yet? Just wondering if this rule really went into effect and if there is really a change in policy. Are they opening every package that comes through now?

 

[Birdie]

I have received a Sidkit Mal without any problems.

 

[kurtyboy]

Go on someone please order an MR Han ANH EE from ebay US :cry

 

[defstartrooper]

Yes it is in effect it's new legislation and no customs won't be opening every package that comes into the UK it's logistically impossible to do, the law will mostly affect businesses because obviously they cant import a consignment of replica guns and put that on invoices.
Of course there will still be a percentage of normal packages checked just as there is for any contraband some will get past others will get found and destroyed i'm sure there will be some kind of fine involved aswell.

The really confusing thing is working out what's allowed and what isn't i'm still confused about this, the actual wording of the legislation doesn't seem hard and fast it seems open to interpretation on some aspects.

Like i posted in the other thread there are still places selling BB guns but they are clear plastic they don't sell the black plastic ones anymore even though they are essentially the same thing just a different colour.

 

[JBReplicas]

I dont know about replica firearms but when I got my TE2 kit from the states I had to pay about $120 in customs charges!!! :angry

 

[bigbaddaddyvader]

When I imported my production-made ROTJ Y-Wing from the US I got stung for around $350 customs charges.Boy they sure do suck at the customs.:lol
I'm hoping to get a casting of a replica weapon soon and will just have to take my chances.As has been said the wording of the new legislation is very ambiguous.I am fairly certain I can get mine through as it doesn't look much like a real firearm and it wouldn't take an expert to tell it from the real deal as it is a sci-fi piece.Very hard to make sense of the new act and it's wording and phrasing.

 

[TurnipyOdour]

There's an item currently on eBay that I was thinking about bidding on but I'm not sure if I want to chance it. If it was just a fine I wouldn't be all that bothered but according to the legislation there's a prison sentence involved too.

Under section 36 - Manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearms.

(9) An offence under this section shall be punishable, on summary conviction—
(a) in England and Wales, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51
weeks or with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or with
both; and
(b) in Scotland, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or
with a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or with both.

Am I reading that right?

 

[JOATRASH FX]

One thing I was wondering... does the UK legal system take into account "intent" while trying a potential crime? (I know the Swedish legal system does.)

I.E. if you "innocently" try to import a Han Solo EE, which is obviously, in your eyes, nothing like a real firearm, but get in trouble anyway because the customs people believe otherwise... how would that go in court? A collector of scifi props can easily prove his intentions- you weren't trying to sneak in a realistic firearm replica... you just love Star Wars and were importing a blaster. Would that be taken into account?

There's an item currently on eBay that I was thinking about bidding on but I'm not sure if I want to chance it. If it was just a fine I wouldn't be all that bothered but according to the legislation there's a prison sentence involved too.

Under section 36 - Manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearms.


Am I reading that right?

 

[bigbaddaddyvader]

After reading that section of the legislation I have another question.Although we,as I live in Northern Ireland,down the years have had to have stricter customs policies as a matter of necessity I have never had problems with replica gun pieces.I have brought rubber stunt guns and the like through no problem.Now reading that it seems that although labelled as a UK act it does not specify or mention Northern Ireland in any way there.Only England,Wales and Scotland are mentioned.Does this mean that our customs have been unaffected by this change?Anyone more familiar with this legislation have any thoughts on this?

 

[defstartrooper]

From what i see it says a prison term or a fine or both if you are caught just bringing in a single replica i'm pretty sure the courts would go for the fine option, if you're caught importing on a large scale most likely a prison term or both maybe.

As for the courts taking into account intent then yes they do have discretion but only in as far as sentancing,you would still be found guilty if they proved you imported the item, wether you believed the item was legal or not in the UK ignorance of the law is no defense.

 

[yakcam]

I hope that they issue any "offenders" with a warning letter first and not go straight for the throat. I bought a Gerber knife and Customs seized it, I got a letter letting me know that it was an illegal weapon in this country because it was a dagger and it was going to be destroyed. On the form it said that if I wish to apply for exemption, call them, and they will save it from death row. After about 6 months of jumping through hoops and filling out applications for the Police, Federal Police and Customs, it was finally approved.

Now, I think the fact that I was trying to import a REAL illegal weapon is far worse than trying to import a replica blaster, so I hope the first "offence" is dealt with via a warning. Maybe, like me, you may be able to find a way around it and actually get to keep it.

Good luck guys

Cheers,

Kraig