New Clause 51 — Increase in Penalty for Offences Relating to Importation or Exportation of Certain Firearms

Criminal Justice Bill — [3rd Alloted Day] – in the House of Commons at 3:54 pm on 20 May 2003.

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'(1) The Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 50 (penalty for improper importation of goods), for subsection (5A) there is substituted—

"(5A) In the case of an offence under subsection (2) or (3) above in connection with—

(a) a prohibition or restriction on the importation of a firearm falling within section 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, or

(b) the prohibition contained in section 20 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981,

subsection (4)(b) above shall have effect as if for the words "7 years" there were substituted the words "10 years"."

(3) In section 68 (offences in relation to exportation of prohibited or restricted goods) for subsection (4A) there is substituted—

"(4A) In the case of an offence under subsection (2) above in connection with—

(a) a prohibition or restriction on the exportation of a firearm falling within section 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, or

(b) the prohibition contained in section 21 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981,

subsection (3)(b) above shall have effect as if for the words "7 years" there were substituted the words "10 years"."

(4) In section 170 (penalty for fraudulent evasion of duty, etc), for subsection (4A) there is substituted—

"(4A) In the case of an offence under this section in connection with—

(a) a prohibition or restriction on the importation or exportation of a firearm falling within section 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, or

(b) the prohibitions contained in sections 20 and 21 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981,

subsection (3)(b) above shall have effect as if for the words "7 years" there were substituted the words "10 years"."

(5) This section does not affect the penalty for any offence committed before the commencement of this section.'—[Paul Goggins.]

Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.