Importing RIFs to the UK

paradoxum said:
PASS is a VCRA number that is recognized too right?
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I've never heard of it.  Even AirsoftWorld, who will accept "I YAM REEL SCRIMSHER" crayoned on a torn up fag packet, don't seem to list it.

I can't find anything about it, doubtless in part due to their piss poor choice of an acronym.

[UPDATE]

Oh, is this "S.W.A.T. PASS"?  A scheme run by one site, with only one link to it that I can find, which is dead, and with nothing else on the site that mentions the scheme and no phone number or query interface, just a generic web form?

Ask yourself: how is a customs goon even meant to know about that scheme, let alone check it?

[UPDATE TO THE UPDATE]

Hang on, is that the same S.W.A.T. that notionally sell the VTG grenade, but in practice just take your money and then never respond?

Blow me, good luck with that.  You'll need it. :(

 
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Tommikka said:
It still didn’t get far enough for that

he would have got a letter from HMRC/Border Force asking for his defence to justify importing a RIF

It never left America 
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I know! I said as much in a previous post. It might not be illegal to export a RIF but i don't think its crazy to assume that customs agencies work together to stop illegal imports - espicially when zero documentation was given.

 
Rogerborg said:
I've never heard of it.  Even AirsoftWorld, who will accept "I YAM REEL SCRIMSHER" crayoned on a torn up fag packet, don't seem to list it.

I can't find anything about it, doubtless in part due to their piss poor choice of an acronym.

[UPDATE]

Oh, is this "S.W.A.T. PASS"?  A scheme run by one site, with only one link to it that I can find, which is dead, and with nothing else on the site that mentions the scheme and no phone number or query interface, just a generic web form?

Ask yourself: how is a customs goon even meant to know about that scheme, let alone check it?

[UPDATE TO THE UPDATE]

Hang on, is that the same S.W.A.T. that notionally sell the VTG grenade, but in practice just take your money and then never respond?

Blow me, good luck with that.  You'll need it. :(
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Whoa holy shit dude. Calm down. I live on the Wirral and that SWAT place is the only one near me, I didn't choose this, I don't know why they don't use UKARA or anything - and if you want to talk to them they respond on their facebook page pretty quickly, why don't you ask them?

Edit: There's a website here for the SWAT PASS:

https://www.swatclan.eu/

"Border patrol know about it. It’s all cleared by border patrol. Like we said in previous messages. ATF are aware of the system we use and it is perfectly fine and we have never had any problems importing from abroad as long as you put your PASS number and a letter stating you are a member of the site and if they need you verifying to contact ourselves."

 
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paradoxum said:
Whoa holy shit dude. Calm down
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NOAW IM TRIGGARAD!!!!

I have no problems with alternatives to UKARA.  However, a local scheme is by its nature going to be less well known, and the nub of my gist is that you may have to try and find a way to make this information available to the shipping and customs goons at either end.  I still fear (wow such anxiety) that you may be on a hiding to nothing though.  This makes me sad: not happy, nor agitated.

On a personal note, Paul at S.W.A.T. may be responsive on Facebook but he's pretty hard to get hold of once he's got your money for goods that were advertised as in-stock but which turn out to be made-to-order.  Given that multiple people have been fed the excuse that "computer ate it" when they do finally catch up with him, I'd question his competence to run any sort of verification system.

Also: "3. You must have to be registered within a 2-month period and play at least three times within that two months "

The exact opposite of UKARA and the proposal in https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-violent-crime-reduction-act-2006-commencement-no-3-order-2007-firearms-measures

"new players must play at least 3 three times in a period of not less than two months"

S.W.A.T. are also apparently "registered with the u.k.a.s.g.b. "united kingdom airsoft site governing body" ", which is puzzling, as the first, last and only mention of any such body that I can find is in the 2006 debate on the 2007 VCRA amendment, and nothing since.

Anyway, I'm now raging hotter than the fire of a thousand suns and almost beyond the capacity for rational thought, but as consciousness slips away from me in a frothing red mist, one last notion remains: perchance you could ask Responsive Paul how he proposes that you use his S.W.A.T. P.A.S.S. scheme to import a RIF from a private US seller?

I really do wish you the best of luck.

 
I don't know if I'm talking to this 'Paul', but this is what they have to say:

PASS is recognised by the ATF in America and when importing where it asks for you membership number you pop your pass number on there. You will also have to email the supplier asking them to put a note on the parcel with our phone number on incase they need to get intouch with us. PASS is recognised throughout the UK and America and we have never had any issues importing from other countries. - Charli
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It will only be imported into the country if you have a defence UKARA or swat PASS either of them will work, but you can only obtain these by playing 3 times.
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Border patrol know about it. It’s all cleared by border patrol. Like we said in previous messages. ATF are aware of the system we use and it is perfectly fine and we have never had any problems importing from abroad as long as you put your PASS number and a letter stating you are a member of the site and if they need you verifying to contact ourselves.
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Just say I am a member of swat my PASS number to show I am a verified member of the site is SAM .... and if you need to verify these details please call 0151 644 1611. It won’t leave the US without them details. Your lucky it didn’t get destroyed.
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It sounds like a PASS number is completely fine, did you even look at the website? https://www.swatclan.eu/

You're spreading some huge FUD here.

 
You're asking if I looked at the website from which I quoted sections?

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Well, everything sounds fine then. I'm sure you'll have no problems.

 
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Didn't actually read it, I just assume this is the appropriate response.

 
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I remember reading about SWAT / PASS few years back.  Seemed like a great idea if implemented across the board but got the feeling that no one was really pushing it in order to get other sites added - my guess it's just used for SWAT sites? whoever/wherever they are......  

 
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I was lucky about two years ago. Due to UKARA no longer sending out expiry notices, my site didnt renew a bunch of us, and we weren't aware of this.

While out of date, I purchased a UMP from Gunfire in Poland, gave them UKARA.  Parcel arrived with number very clearly on the address label, no problems.

I can only assume that Customs isn't checking every single number on every single package and I was lucky not to have my RIF siezed.

 
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John_W said:
I was lucky about two years ago. Due to UKARA no longer sending out expiry notices, my site didnt renew a bunch of us, and we weren't aware of this.

While out of date, I purchased a UMP from Gunfire in Poland, gave them UKARA.  Parcel arrived with number very clearly on the address label, no problems.

I can only assume that Customs isn't checking every single number on every single package and I was lucky not to have my RIF siezed.
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Since UKARA was setup by UK businesses to sell RIF's here in the UK, surely providing customs with access to the UKARA database would only hurt their sales in the long run?  Does HM Customs actually have access?  Do a Google and it's not clear, some people say they do, some say they don't.  There's no official mention on the UKARA website.  I've got a few friends who work in Customs IT and they have never heard of it lol.  

 
ak2m4 said:
Since UKARA was setup by UK businesses to sell RIF's here in the UK, surely providing customs with access to the UKARA database would only hurt their sales in the long run? 
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Indeed, and if I were a UK retailer paying £300+ a year for access to it, I'd be telling them in no uncertain terms to stop giving access to Customs and to private buyers calling them up, because both of those are costing them sales.

Does HM Customs actually have access?  Do a Google and it's not clear, some people say they do, some say they don't.  There's no official mention on the UKARA website.  I've got a few friends who work in Customs IT and they have never heard of it lol.  
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http://ukara.org.uk/#privacy

" The system can also be accessed on an individual look up basis by the UK Boarder Agency [sic] to allow player imports of RiFs & 24/7 Intelligence department, Hampshire Police also in reference to imports "

I put in that FOI request to Boarder... I mean, Border Force. 

"We have established that we do not hold the information which you have requested.  The 
Home Office does not hold data on verification checks made on the importation of realistic 
imitation firearms into the UK.  Each instance is dealt with on its own merits and 
information on checks conducted are held on separate manual records. "

Things that make you go "Hmmm."

 
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So it seems if I put "UKARA Number 5319008" it would get through customs unless it was singled out for special attention...

 
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John_W said:
So it seems if I put "UKARA Number 5318809" it would get through customs unless it was singled out for special attention...
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It's possible.  Not very scientific but in order to test the theory people would need to start putting incorrect UKARA information on their packages and see what happens ?  Personally I don't have a UKARA number.  I do need some samples from China so may try

 
John_W said:
So it seems if I put "UKARA Number 5318809" it would get through customs unless it was singled out for special attention...
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I'd note that attempting that would be:

1) A criminal offence for importing without a defence.

2) A separate charge of fraud by false representation.

3) And if you stuck to that story after an investigation had begun, you'd be up for perverting the course of justice, for which custody is assumed.

 
Rogerborg said:
I'd note that attempting that would be:

1) A criminal offence for importing without a defence.

2) A separate charge of fraud by false representation.

3) And if you stuck to that story after an investigation had begun, you'd be up for perverting the course of justice, for which custody is assumed.
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You don't do irony and never owned a 1980s calculator then?

 
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