hey i was wondering if anyone has ordered a new gun from taiwangun without a ukara. my friend said he did and it came normally in the post. has anyone had any experience with ordering without one ? also what about borrowing someones ukara, are you able to do that and just have it shipped to your house?
Get your UKARA first, by risking importing something without proof of a valid defense is detrimental to the UK Airsoft community.
In answer to your query on how it works.
Batches of Parcels are checked at a random basis regardless of contents, the fact that a parcel has a UKARA number or not is irrelevant if its not found in a random check. Your friend didn't get caught because the shipment it came in wasn't pulled out for the randomised checks.
The UKARA number DOES become relevant if a parcel containing a RIF is caught up in a random search by Border Force at one of the ports or airports. That is when it is seized and a seizure notice is sent to your address, you then ask them to check the UKARA number as a method of proving your defense to import in your initial response to the seizure. The UKARA number is then checked against the database by Border Force at Birmingham. If the UKARA number matches the registered name and address with the name and address on the package then it will be entered back into the postal system.
BF are much hotter on RIF identification and procedures recently as it is part of their firearms/weapons importation training.
Basically, if it does get picked up by BF in a random search then you will need that UKARA number. If it is not valid then it will seized and destroyed, and under the VCRA/Section 5 you will either be at a minimum fined a few thousand quid or even a custodial sentence.
Last year BF picked up on a RIF of mine despite having a UKARA number, I had to re-iterate the UKARA number, if I didn't have a UKARA number then I would have been fined and prosecuted.
You cannot borrow someones UKARA number, because the number is registered to the UKARA holders home address and the RIF must be addressed to that same address.
Do your three games once the COVID restrictions are lifted and get your own UKARA. Do you really want to risk getting prosecuted and potentially make more trouble for the Airsofting community in the UK?
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