Explosives

Control of Explosives Regulations 1991

These regulations:

Require a person who acquires or keeps explosives, including occupiers of licensed factories and magazines and most Government and other official bodies, to hold an explosives certificate issued by the Chief Officer of Police.
Impose restrictions on persons involved in the transfer of explosives.
Forbid a person who has committed certain offences or who has been sentenced to specific terms of imprisonment, custody or detention, from acquiring, keeping, handling or controlling explosives or any restricted substance.
Forbid an employer from knowingly employing a prohibited person in a position where he handles or has control of explosives or any restricted substance.
Restrict the types and quantities of explosives which may be kept for private use and not for sale.
Require occupiers of licensed explosive factories and magazines to appoint one person responsible for security of explosives.
Require a person who acquires possession of, or keeps explosives, to make and maintain an up-to-date record containing specific information. This does not apply to private use in general.
Impose requirements for reporting the loss of explosives, including theft, to the police.

Types of Certificate

In respect of Explosives Licensing, there are two types of certificate:

Acquire only

This is issued to permit a person or company, to obtain explosives that are to be used straight away, and not kept overnight.

Acquire and keep

This is issued to allow a person or company to obtain explosives and keep them in an approved storage place.

The main uses of explosives are:

Sporting /social use

This term refers to persons using gunpowder for shooting purposes, such as muzzle-loading handguns and rifles, or events where re-enactments of historical battles involve the use of muzzle-loading muskets and cannon.

Mines and quarries

These locations often use explosives to break up rock and displace large quantities of earth.

Demolition

The quantities of explosive used on this type of operation vary, depending on the size, construction and location, of the building to be demolished.

Applying for an explosives licence

All applications must be submitted to the police using a FormCOER1. This may be obtained from Firearms Licensing at police headquarters.

Those who apply for the grant of an explosive certificate toacquire and keep will be visited by an Explosives Officer in order to assess the application and give advice with regard to the secure storage of the explosives.

In the main, most applications will relate to the private/social use provision. Applicants should be aware that there are limits to the quantities of these substances that may be kept. As a general guide they are:

10 kilograms of gunpowder
2 5 kilograms of any other explosive (powder content of cartridges, fireworks, flares, fuses, igniters, pyrotechnics for technical purposes)

15 kilograms powder content caps and ammunition

But no more than 25 kilograms in total.

Please note that an acquire only certificate is only issued for a period of 12 months and that an acquire and keep certificate can be issued for a period up to three years.

There is no charge for this service, but we would ask that all renewal applications are submitted up to 30 days before the existing certificate expires.

Applicants should be aware that those living in Council or Leasehold properties may be subject to restrictions under the terms of their letting or rental agreements, in relation to the storage of explosives or hazardous substances on their property.

These pages are a very small part of the whole regulations and acts relating to explosives, which are too numerous and complex to explain within the limits of this web-page alone.

Any answers to your questions, which have not been found here, can be found by contacting the Explosives Liaison Officer in Firearms Licensing at police headquarters.

It is anticipated that new regulations governing the storage and use of explosives will come into force in April 2004, however, details of these changes are not yet available.