Shotguns and rifles must be secured at all times, and since February 2011 it has been a crime to fail to take 'reasonable precautions' to prevent someone under 18 from gaining access to an air rifle. Whilst this does not mean it has to be in a cabinet, in practical terms a cabinet is the best option to demonstrate you are acting responsibly.
Outwardly many gun cabinets are very similar, but in practice there are substantial but subtle differences in design which go into the construction of the better cabinets which meet the British standard BS 7558/92.
