(This note is not part of the Order)
Under section 2(1) of the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (“the 1997 Act”) a decommissioning scheme must identify a period during which firearms, ammunition and explosives may be dealt with in accordance with the scheme (“the amnesty period”). The 1997 Act was amended by the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning (Amendment) Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”). Under section 2(3) of the 1997 Act, as amended, the day appointed by Order under section 2(2)(b) must be no more than twelve months after the date on which the Order was made and no later than 27th February 2003 or such later date as the Secretary of State may from time to time appoint.
The Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/426) appointed 26th February 2004 as the day before which the amnesty period identified in a decommissioning scheme must end. This Order appoints 25th February 2005 as the day before which the amnesty period identified in a decommissioning scheme must end.