Weapons and Amourers
Amourers and Amouries

Armourers used in the UK must be sourced from the BBC vetted list for Armourers.

Access to areas used by armourers to handle and store weapons and ammunition must be strictly limited to vetted armourers only. It must not be possible for unauthorised persons to withdraw the keys. The manager in control of the stores must ensure that appropriate firearms and explosive licenses are held.

Any sharp weapon, including replicas must be under the control of a fight arranger or vetted armourer.

A competent sword fight arranger may be appointed to take responsibility for the safe use and storage of swords.

If live ammunition is to be used, the justification for this must be set out in the production risk assessment.

The use of live ammunition is normally prohibited unless carried out under Home Office and MoD regulations or under license, approval and permission from the Police e.g. use of a shot gun for agricultural purposes or registered gun club.

A sword fight arranger will provide training and choreography for sequences under their control.

Precautions must be taken to ensure that the police do not react to an apparent emergency. The local Police must be informed if a sequence involving weapons is to be filmed in a public area. Those in charge of security must be informed if such a sequence is to be filmed on closed set or in a studio.

If a firearm replica or deactivated weapon is to be used (or could be seen from) a public place the Police must be informed. The police will allocate a CAD reference number and will need a point of contact in the Production e.g. Armourer. The point of contact and the person co-ordinating safety on location should know the reference and any conditions attached to it.

If noise is likely then a competent person must assess the possibility of exposure to noise above the Peak Action level. Appropriate measures must be taken to control exposure to the noise that may be generated by weapons. Hearing protection when considered necessary must be used by all where the risk assessment has identified a risk of hearing damage. HSE guidance notes give more advice on noise and guns.

If needed those in front of the camera may be provided with proprietary ear plugs that provide adequate protection. The make-up designer along with the competent person should be able to advise on the type of ear protection and to match flesh colour.

There may be many reasons for a weapon to misfire, it may be there is a delay in firing, caused by a slow burn, lasting 2 seconds or more.

If a misfire occurs do not walk in front of the muzzle and always check with the person in charge of the firearms.