Again, it would appear that the left hand is not speaking to the right in one of Australia’s police departments. This is the case because the accuracy of Victoria Police’s gun registry has again been called into question after an internal investigation found dozens of firearms were “lost”. In fact, out of an audit of nearly 1000 firearms – conducted by the police’s Licensing and Regulation Division -81 guns could not be accounted for.
For further information about the 2018 story click here
Superintendent Paul Millett and obtained under freedom of information laws – found 81 firearms “could not be identified,” the report revealed.
Police, however, said it was up to registered gun dealers to maintain accurate records, and that Mr Barlow – who lost his licence following the 2014 audit after police charged him with a range of firearm offences – had failed to do so.
In 2010 the same problem was flagged.
Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said:
“I’m more confident from the advice I’ve been given that the probability is that these firearms have been marked for destruction [or] have been destroyed,” he said.
“But unfortunately, our record-keeping has been poor, and we haven’t been able to reconcile the destruction on the databases.”
Given the database discrepancies there is some legitimate public concern that the location of the seized guns being not known increases the risk they could end up on the black market and/or used in crime.
However, Deputy Commissioner Walshe said
“there has been no indication of inappropriate behaviour by any police member”.
THE LAW IN NSW
Following the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996 Parliament introduced the The Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) which effectively requires anyone who wants to own, possess, or carry a firearm, including handguns and long arms, to obtain a fire arm licence.
The Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 (NSW)(The Act) prohibits anyone from use, possession, buying, selling, carrying or manufacturing a weapon (unless they have a valid permit).
For a further discussion of the law, different types of weapon offences and things to consider, please visit our dedicated weapons and firearm offences page
A prohibited firearm, pistol and prohibited pistol are all defined in the Act.
OUTLAWED WEAPONS
The following is a non-exhaustive list of outlawed weapons in NSW:
- Firearm/s;
- Tasers;
- Butterfly knives;
- Flick knives;
- Swords;
- Throwing stars;
- Military-style weapons;
- Knuckle dusters (brass knuckles);
- Extendable batons;
- Slingshots;
- Imitation firearms;
- Spear gun/s;
- Crossbow (or any similar device);
- Blow-gun or blow-pipe;
- Any dart capable of being projected from a blow-gun or blow-pipe;
- A whip (also known as a cat-o’-nine-tails);
- Kung fu sticks or “nunchaku”;
- A baton or any other similar article;
- A sap glove, A studded glove, or any other similar article;
- Anti-personnel spray and that can discharge any irritant;
- Any acoustic or light-emitting anti-personnel device which can cause permanent or temporary incapacity or disorientate persons;
- Any object that substantially duplicates in appearance a weapon (but not if it is a children’s toy);
- A Bowen Knife Belt or any other similar article;
- Body armour vests (or another similar article);
- Handcuffs; and
- Silencers or any other device designed for attachment to a firearm
IF YOU ARE CHARGED WITH A FIREARM OR WEAPONS OFFENCE
National Criminal Lawyers only employ the best Criminal Lawyers Sydney has to offer. We service all Courts in NSW including regional areas. Moreover, we have been successful in having numerous firearms offences dealt with by way of dismissal or the non-recording of a conviction.
For more information please visit our website or call us on 02 9893 1889 for a FREE consultation with a Senior Criminal Lawyer.