Over 200 firearms handed in during GMP’s firearms surrender

The two-week national firearm surrender took place between Sunday 21 July and Sunday 4 August and gave people the opportunity to surrender their guns anonymously.

The scheme ran across all forces in Greater Manchester with the aim of reducing violent crime.

Within the first week, over 100 firearms were handed in to Greater Manchester Police:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/129410/over-100-firearms-surrendered-to-police

Over the course of the three weeks, over 200 firearms were surrendered to GMP made up of real guns, replicas and plastic imitation guns.

Among the firearms handed in there were a number of deactivated guns including an AK47, an Uzi sub-machine gun and a Bren WW2 machine gun.

Superintendent Danny Inglis said: “The firearms surrender was a great success and any gun that gets handed in is one less on the street for criminals to get their hands on.

“The success of the surrender is as a result of continued efforts from officers, and our partners working together to safeguard, intervene and educate at the earliest opportunity.

“Guns have no place in Greater Manchester and we will continue to work hard to ensure the streets of Manchester remain a safe place to be.”

 

 

Firearms legislation is regularly updated and GMP regularly ask people to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to help avoid them getting into the wrong hands.

Stun guns and similar devices, in particular front venting blank firers, are illegal in the UK and if you have ordered any illegal guns or component parts using internet sites, an amnesty is your opportunity to hand them in before police find them.

Illegal possession of a firearm can result in a sentence of up to five years in prison and if you are found guilty of possession with intent to supply this can increase to life in prison.