Import of a airsoft gun
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Tactical Pith Helmet
AF-UK patch owner
- Jul 5, 2016
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If you have a defence, and the rif is boxed/suitably wrapped you are fine.
If you try and recreate Pelham 123 you'll get in bother.
If you try and recreate Pelham 123 you'll get in bother.
Asomodai
AF-UK patch owner
- Jun 14, 2017
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3rd party as it is run by Airsoft retailers, but Border Force has access to it if the parcel is spotted as part of its random checks. It happened to me once and even with a valid UKARA took a few months to get it checked by them and released.
If it gets caught being imported without a UKARA number it will likely be destroyed as it's very difficult and time consuming to prove other defenses (That frankly Border force probably won't recognise)
For your own sake, just get a UKARA number as it makes things much simpler for you.
Neptune
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(re)read the forum rules, this is bordering (pun intended) on breaking them:
• Illegal/Banned Subjects
You cannot discuss anything that will help someone break the law in his or her locale. This means talking about:
How to evade paying tax on imported goods
How to get restricted items past customs
How to get restricted items if you are under-age
Any other illegal activities
Rogerborg
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- Aug 22, 2017
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Why?
Unless you have a defence, and can produce it on the spot, don't do it. You're looking at up to 51 weeks in prison, and/or an unlimited fine.
Yes, they check. Truckers are regularly caught and given custodial sentences for contraband and weapons. An ex Army Brigadier was caught on the Chunnel with a small multi-tool with a 2" blade, arrested, and accepted a caution and a permanent criminal record.
https://metro.co.uk/2006/11/20/brigadier-held-for-knife-on-train-400495/
(There's a happier ending to that one, fortunately, but it shows that they do check)
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- Oct 7, 2017
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Seriously ?, was he kicking off about something or had he threatened someone with it?.
That's just mental ?
Don't be a twat ffs, just get a defense & buy/import properly like every other responsible player?
Rogerborg
Supporters
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Ah, I misrecollected some of the details. Brigadier, not Major, it was a larger multi-tool, but a 2" blade, I infer folding, so not illegal at all. Arrested, fingerprinted, DNA taken, accepted a caution and permanent criminal record, which later seems to have been struck when he received better legal advice.
The take-away point though is that yes, they check things. It seems like everything going on the train is going to get x-rayed, so you'll get caught. Given the potential criminal penalties, and the certainty that you'll lose the item, you'd have to be a mug to attempt it without a rock solid defence.
I have high hopes for OP though.
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Asomodai
AF-UK patch owner
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Rogerborg
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I think the big-brain genius is talking about trying to smuggle a RIF back hidden in his car, without a defence, and just hoping that he won't get caught.
I'm torn between wanting him to try it, and hoping that he doesn't.
Cr0-Magnon
AF-UK patch owner
- Sep 18, 2019
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Probably best to just to delete this thread and get on with our lives, eh.
Neptune
Members
- Dec 21, 2012
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The part I quoted.
You can import without UKARA, and Border Force are aware of the law and the defences listed under section 37.
Laws:
If it is a UK legal airsoft gun as defined in Firearms legislation then only the VCRA applies to the type of RIF/IF
The VCRA requires a defence to import RIFs. Eg airsoft skirmishing. One method of proving that is the UKARA, and that is recognised by the Home Office/Border Force etc
UKARA is a third party retailer scheme, under which players are registered via site membership schemes
If its an IF then no defence is required
The other concern is financial, and whether import VAT or import duty are required, which relate to the item classification and value
In the Eurotunnel/Euro shuttle there may be carriage policies.
They require firearms to be declared, all the relevant documentation and that it is secured
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/legal/carriage-of-firearms-and-fireworks/
As hinted above an airsoft gun used to be a ‘low power air weapon’, but a revised definition was made in firearms legislation which took UK legal airsoft guns out of that definition.
Euro tunnel may or may not treat it as an air weapon / firearm. If they do then you could carry it but needed to declare it
They might or might not. That’s the game that smugglers play with Border Force.
They may randomly check, check on a targeted basis or check that things are in accordance with declarations
If by ‘the car that you brought it in’ you mean that you have taken a RIF abroad and are returning then they may still check. You would not owe import VAT or import duty as you have taken something out and returned - but if it looks new and you didn’t declare it when exporting then they may charge you for an import
If you are unable to justify why you are importing a RIF, and can’t show ‘intent to use it at insured skirmishing sites’ then it could be confiscated
Rogerborg
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- Aug 22, 2017
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A nuance: the VCRA provides a defence to the offence of importing a RIF. A defence is not a licence to do so, although Border Farce have historically chosen to treat it as such. They could choose not to at any point.
At least that's according to what's presented has as Border Force Operations Manual here https://basc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/02/imitation-firearms.pdf
"The VCRA sets out a number of defences to prosecution which although do not technically apply at the point of import it is UK Border Agency policy to apply them to private individuals as if they did."
The caveat is that there's no document number on it, or anything that could be used to verify that it is, or was, an actual Border Farce document, so you couldn't even cite it to them.
@Rogerborg
Interesting that they have referenced paintball in permitted activities along with airsoft.
The Home Office have covered off similar interpretation with the UKPSF, (along with many caveats of subject to being presented and tested in court) but the skirmishing defence document explicitly states airsoft.
I shall retain that in my library of useful stuff
the purposes of organising or taking part in certain “permitted activities” relates generally to “airsoft” events but can also include paintballing.
Interesting that they have referenced paintball in permitted activities along with airsoft.
The Home Office have covered off similar interpretation with the UKPSF, (along with many caveats of subject to being presented and tested in court) but the skirmishing defence document explicitly states airsoft.
I shall retain that in my library of useful stuff
the purposes of organising or taking part in certain “permitted activities” relates generally to “airsoft” events but can also include paintballing.
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