There are currently certain restrictions on the possession of airsoft replicas, which came in with the introduction of the ASBA (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003) Amendments, prohibiting the possession of any firearms replica in a public place without good cause (to be concealed in a hard gun case or sealed container only not to be left in view of public at any time). The prohibition of self-contained gas cartridge firearms similar to that made by Brocock can arguably apply to Moscarts and BB-Shower grenade systems. However, a formal case precedent has yet to be set.
There were initial concerns among the airsoft community that the Violent Crime Reduction Bill (passed an Act in November 2006) would in future prevent airsoft skirmishers from buying realistic imitation firearms. However, on 20 September 2006, the Association of British Airsofters (ABA) received a letter from Tony McNulty (Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing at the Home Office) saying that he has "decided to provide a defence for airsoft skirmishing in relation to the ban on the sale etc. of realistic firearms." There has been confirmation that airsoft will receive an exemption. This letter is viewable to all at Airsoft International online.
According to Section 36 of the VCRA (Violent Crim Reduction Act), which came into effect on 1 October 2007, RIF's (Realistic Imitation Firearms) may not be sold, imported or manufactured. Unrealistic imitation firearms (IF's) must be more than 50% bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright blue, bright green, bright pink or bright purple or have dimensions of no more than a height of 38 millimetres and a length of 70 millimetres (as defined in the Home Office regulations for the VCRA). Defences to the act are available for the following:
a museum or gallery
theatrical performances and rehearsals of such performances
the production of films and television programmes
the organisation and holding of historical re-enactments
crown servants.
The notes for the VCRA state the following: "The regulations provide for two new defences. The first is for the organisation and holding of airsoft skirmishing. This is defined by reference to "permitted activities" and the defence applies only where third party liability insurance is held in respect of the activities." and "The defence for airsoft skirmishing can apply to individual players because their purchase of realistic imitation firearms for this purpose is considered part of the "holding" of a skirmishing event."
The airsoft defence is based on whether or not a person is a skirmisher. One of the measures put in place by retailers was the forming of a centrally recorded and maintained database. This system is managed by the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association or UKARA (Founding members of this organisation were Airsoft Armouries, Airsoft World Ltd, Firesupport Ltd., Ironfoot Industries, RedWolf Airsoft (UK) Ltd., Wolf Armouries, Zeroone Airsoft and J.D. Airsoft Ltd.) UKARA shares the database of registered skirmishers with the member retailers allowing quick and easy verification that the purchaser is allowed to buy a RIF under the VCRA skirmisher defence. To qualify for UKARA a person must be a regular skirmisher (i.e. skirmish three or more times in no less than two months, and typically at one site) in order to be registered and the airsoft site they register/skirmish at must hold public Public Liability Insurance. Once a skirmisher is registered, they receive a membership card and must produce this before buying or trading airsoft firearms from these retailers, although this is not a legal requirement.
As long as a person can prove that they are an airsoft skirmisher, they may purchase RIFs. This can be done successfully by either joining UKARA or other means, such as ordering a RIF from outside the UK and ensuring the parcel is marked in such a fashion that if Customs were to stop the parcel they can check the purchaser's validity to purchase said RIF.
Two-tone variants of the Airsoft Gun are also available, where the majority of the surface of the gun is bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright blue, bright green, bright pink, or bright purple. These colour variants allow for the purchase of an Airsoft Gun in the UK from an airsoft distributor without the need to be registered, although their use in skirmishes is discouraged and at some sites, banned. Airsoft is not prohibited to persons under the age of 18. To take your airsoft into a public building you have to be 18 ,but no licence is needed ,for airsoft is clasified as a toy. (Information provided by the airsoft laws institute of the UK, all following laws apply to adults and children and should not be taken for granted)
