The Law Simplified – Understanding Your Airsoft Defence
If you wish to purchase a realistic imitation firearm (RIF), commonly referred to as a black airsoft replica, you must meet the relevant legal requirements under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (VCRA) and associated regulations.
In simple terms, you must be 18 years of age or older, and the retailer must be satisfied that a legitimate statutory defence applies to the sale.
For players obtaining verification through S.W.A.T. P.A.S.S. (Player Approval Site System), the following requirements apply:
- Membership – You must be a registered member of S.W.A.T. Airsoft and hold a valid membership number.
- Qualifying Attendance – You must complete a minimum of three qualifying airsoft game days over a period of not less than 56 days at recognised S.W.A.T. venues.
- Identification – You must provide satisfactory proof of identity and age, together with proof of address where required.
- Venue Verification – Your attendance must be recorded and verified through our established, insured airsoft skirmishing activities.
- P.A.S.S. Approval – Once the necessary requirements have been satisfied, S.W.A.T. will review your application and, where approved, record your verified status within our secure P.A.S.S. system.
Is P.A.S.S. a Legal Requirement?
No. Neither P.A.S.S. nor UKARA is a government-issued licence or a compulsory national registration scheme.
Both are methods of providing supporting evidence that a player participates in legitimate airsoft activities.
The law provides a defence for qualifying airsoft skirmishing activities, while individual verification schemes establish their own reasonable procedures for confirming eligibility.
Membership and Verification – Completely FREE
At S.W.A.T., we believe that establishing your airsoft credentials should be straightforward, transparent and affordable.
S.W.A.T. Membership – FREE
P.A.S.S. Registration – FREE
No Annual Membership Fees
Normal charges for participating in airsoft game days still apply.
For full details of our membership requirements, qualifying attendance and approval procedures, please refer to our P.A.S.S. Membership Criteria section.
S.W.A.T. P.A.S.S. – Independent Player Verification Since 2006.
Power levels
All airsoft guns that are used within our venues are speed checked by means of a chronograph.
Disavowed players
Disavowed players, quiet simply means they are no longer active airsoft players and have requested they be removed from our members list. This does not mean in the future they may not return to us.S.W.A.T. Airsoft – Privacy Policy
S.W.A.T. P.A.S.S. – Player Approval Site System
Updated: October 2026
1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy
S.W.A.T. Airsoft is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality and security of all personal information entrusted to us by our members, players, customers and website visitors.
We recognise the importance of responsible data management and aim to ensure that personal information is collected, processed, stored and disclosed in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how it is used and the measures we take to protect it.
2. Information We Collect
When registering as a member of S.W.A.T. Airsoft or applying for P.A.S.S. verification, we may collect the following information:
- Full name.
- Residential address and postcode.
- Date of birth.
- Contact telephone number.
- Email address.
- Membership identification number (SAM number).
- Recorded airsoft game attendance.
- Membership registration and approval dates.
- Identity verification information.
- P.A.S.S. approval, suspension or withdrawal status.
Where identification documents are examined, we aim to retain only the information reasonably necessary to establish and document successful verification.
We do not routinely request special category personal information, such as medical information, for P.A.S.S. verification.
Any additional information collected for safety or other legitimate operational purposes will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.
3. How We Use Your Information
Personal information is collected and processed for legitimate operational purposes, including:
- Registering and administering S.W.A.T. membership.
- Maintaining accurate membership and attendance records.
- Confirming player identity and age.
- Assessing eligibility for P.A.S.S. approval.
- Supporting retailer verification under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 and associated regulations.
- Preventing fraudulent or unauthorised use of membership credentials.
- Communicating essential membership and administrative information.
- Maintaining the security and integrity of our membership systems.
We will only send promotional marketing communications where permitted by applicable law, including obtaining consent where required.
4. Lawful Basis for Processing
We process personal information only where an appropriate lawful basis applies.
Depending on the purpose, this may include:
- Contractual necessity: Administering membership and providing requested services.
- Legitimate interests: Maintaining accurate verification records, protecting our systems and preventing fraud, where those interests are not overridden by individual rights.
- Legal obligations: Processing information where necessary to comply with applicable legal requirements.
- Consent: Where we specifically request permission for optional activities, including certain marketing communications.
Where processing relies upon consent, individuals may withdraw that consent at any time.
5. P.A.S.S. Retailer Verification and Disclosure
S.W.A.T. operates an independent player verification system known as P.A.S.S. (Player Approval Site System).
This system enables authorised airsoft retailers to confirm whether a registered member has successfully completed our verification requirements.
Our restricted-access retailer register may display:
- Member's registered name.
- Unique SAM membership number.
- P.A.S.S. approval date and current status.
We do not publish members' residential addresses, dates of birth, telephone numbers, email addresses or identity documents within the retailer register.
Access is restricted to authorised retailers for legitimate verification purposes.
6. Secondary Identity Verification
Where additional verification is necessary, an authorised retailer may contact S.W.A.T. directly.
The retailer must provide relevant information already obtained from the customer, including their registered name, membership number and, where necessary, residential address and postcode.
S.W.A.T. will compare the information supplied against our records.
Where the information matches and the member's P.A.S.S. approval remains valid, we may confirm the verification result.
We do not routinely disclose the residential address or other confidential personal details held within our records.
Where information does not match, we will not confirm a successful verification.
The retailer may be advised that the information could not be verified and that further checks are required.
A failed verification does not automatically establish fraud or a criminal offence.
This procedure is designed to reduce the risk of mistaken identity, unauthorised purchases and fraudulent use of membership information.
7. Sharing Personal Information
S.W.A.T. does not sell, rent or trade members' personal information to third parties for commercial marketing purposes.
Personal information may be shared where reasonably necessary with:
- Authorised retailers conducting legitimate P.A.S.S. verification.
- Service providers responsible for secure website hosting, database administration or other operational services.
- Appropriate regulatory, law enforcement or public authorities where disclosure is legally required or otherwise lawful.
Any disclosure will be limited to information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.
8. Security and Protection of Information
We use appropriate technical and organisational safeguards intended to protect personal information against unauthorised access, accidental loss, alteration, misuse or unlawful disclosure.
These include controlled access to membership records, restricted retailer verification arrangements and administrative procedures governing the handling of personal information.
Retailers granted access to P.A.S.S. must not reproduce, distribute or disclose membership information for unauthorised purposes.
Access may be suspended or withdrawn where misuse is identified.
9. Data Accuracy and Retention
We aim to maintain accurate and up-to-date membership and verification records.
Members are encouraged to notify us when their personal information changes.
Personal information will be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including membership administration, verification, legitimate record-keeping and applicable legal requirements.
Where information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised in accordance with our retention procedures.
10. Your Rights Under UK Data Protection Law
Subject to applicable legal conditions and exemptions, individuals have the right to:
- Request access to personal information held about them.
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Request erasure of personal information in certain circumstances.
- Request restriction of processing.
- Object to certain processing activities.
- Request data portability where applicable.
- Withdraw consent where consent is the lawful basis for processing.
Requests concerning personal information should be submitted directly to S.W.A.T.
We may request appropriate identification before disclosing or amending personal records.
We will respond within the applicable statutory time limits.
Individuals may also raise concerns with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.
11. Website Cookies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support essential website functionality, maintain security and understand website usage.
Cookies are small data files stored on a visitor's device.
Where cookies or similar technologies require consent under applicable law, we will request that consent before using them.
Visitors may also manage cookies through their browser settings and any cookie preference controls provided on our website.
Further information about the cookies used, their purposes and retention periods should be provided through our website's cookie information or consent settings.
12. International Data Transfers
Where personal information is transferred or accessed outside the United Kingdom, S.W.A.T. will ensure that an appropriate lawful transfer mechanism or applicable exception is in place.
We will apply the relevant safeguards required by UK data protection legislation.
13. Children's Personal Information
S.W.A.T. permits younger players to participate in suitable airsoft activities subject to our age restrictions, parental or guardian requirements and venue safety procedures.
Membership information relating to players under 18 will be handled with appropriate care.
Members under 18 will not receive P.A.S.S. purchasing approval.
Their membership and attendance records may be maintained for legitimate administrative purposes and future eligibility assessment.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
S.W.A.T. reserves the right to review and update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in legislation, operational procedures or data protection requirements.
Material changes affecting the use of personal information will be communicated where required by law.
The current version will be available through the Legal section of our website.
15. Contact Us
For enquiries concerning this Privacy Policy, membership information, P.A.S.S. verification or your personal data rights, please contact:
S.W.A.T. Airsoft – Administration
Email: paul@swatuk.com
Website: www.swatuk.co
Data Controller: Paul Knaggs - Managing director- S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT & PAINTBALL LTD
Office - 84 Parkside road-Bebington-Wirral-Merseyside- CH63 7NR
Phone 0151-644 1611 option 1
S.W.A.T. P.A.S.S. – Independent Player Verification Since 2006
Protecting Our Players. Protecting Their Information. Supporting Responsible Retailers.