The Firearms (Amendments) Act 1997 prohibited the possession of handguns in England and Wales, and Scotland without the specific authority of the Home Secretary or the Scottish Ministers. It does not prohibit the possession of handguns in Northern Ireland.
The Home Secretary has agreed to use her powers under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 to allow a small squad of elite GB Olympic pistol shooters to train in this county ahead of the Olympics in 2012. Scottish Ministers have agreed, in principle, to exercise their powers in a similar manner in relation to Scotland. In Northern Ireland, pistol shooters are free to practise their sport provided that they have the appropriate firearm certificate from the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The Home Secretary will also use her powers under section 5 to ensure arrangements are in place to allow competitors and officials at the Olympic games in London in 2012 to possess their special competition pistols for the duration of the games and for any special warm- up events.