Crime Prevention Officer, Acting Sergeant Sue Rose, said the new laws came into effect last month and were an update to the Firearms Regulation 2017 and the Weapons Prohibition Regulation 2017.

"The changes stipulate that firearms must now be stored at a licence holder's principal place of residence or at a residential premises where a person is residing when the firearms are stored there."

Further to this, she said when firearms are stored in a separate building or structure from the residential premises it must be in such proximity to that residential premises that it is easily observed.

"This change to legislation means that if, for example, a person resides in another town or location and owns a weekend/hobby farm or property firearms are not permitted to be stored at the location when no person is residing there. Firearms must be stored at their principal place of residence." she said.

The updated laws aim to address the targeted theft of firearms.