Northern Ireland Office

The Secretary of State Shaun Woodward MP has today announced that the decommissioning amnesty period under the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 will end in 2010.

 He is to seek Parliamentary approval for a final extension to February, 2010 and confirmed that no further extension to the legislation will be sought next year. 

Shaun Woodward said: “We have hit the end of the track for those who still hold illegal weapons.  The recent political progress towards devolution of justice and policing is a further clear demonstration that society in Northern Ireland has moved on.

“It is time that those holding illegal weapons moved on as well.

“They have tested the patience of the community for long enough.

“This is their final opportunity to join the rest of society in building a shared future for   Northern Ireland or else face the consequences.”

Note to editors

The order to extend the decommissioning amnesty will be made under the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997, as amended. The order will be debated in Parliament before coming into force next February

The Order provides that the end date for the decommissioning amnesty will be 9th February 2010.