Concerns growing about blank-firing guns being converted into lethal weapons
At least 37 TVBFs have been recovered in Merseyside since January 2021
We're hearing how concerns are growing among police officers in Merseyside about blank-firing guns being converted into lethal weapons.
It can take criminals a matter of minutes to convert the Turkish blank firers.
These blank-firing guns can be legally bought in dozens of shops across Merseyside, but with just a few basic tools, like a hammer and screwdriver, criminal gangs can turn them into viable firearms from their front rooms.
At least 37 of these converted weapons have been recovered in Merseyside in the last four years.
Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill, head of crime for Merseyside Police, said:
"You fire them and it's almost a pop, a release of gas, from them but they couldn't do any damage or injury, (but) they can be converted where you can actually fire ammunition with them and if you fire ammunition, you've got the potential to kill or injure somebody."
In their original state, they have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges.
They re sold with at least 50% of their visible surface painted a bright colour, however, criminals paint them black so they look like a lethal weapon - and they re also converted into a lethal purpose firearm.
Merseyside Police are running an amnesty next week - meaning owners can hand them in - without fear of prosecution.