Manchester police support national gun amnesty
The force is helping to get a specific model of firearm off the streets
Greater Manchester Police is getting behind an amnesty aimed at getting a specific model of gun off the streets.
There are five types of BRUNI top and side-venting blank-firing imitation firearms they want to recover as part of an amnesty which kicks off on Monday 2nd February.
They're encouraging anyone who owns one of the following Bruni models to turn them into any Manchester police station:
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police blank firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 blank firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ blank firing self-loading pistol
• .380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single action blank firing revolver
Assessments carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and policing partners have now established that these specific models can be easily converted into functioning firearms capable of discharging live ammunition.
Even though these models may have been legitimately and lawfully purchased originally, their possession is now illegal. However, they say you won’t face criminal prosecution if you surrender them within this amnesty period.
Police are advising those transporting any firearm to one of our police stations wraps them in a bag or places them in a box, to avoid any undue alarm to members of the public and to ensure everyone’s safety.
The reason that this amnesty is so important is that these types of TVBF are readily convertible without specialist equipment, and across the country they have been used in several serious, criminal incidents, including five murders.
They say of the firearms they have recovered over the last five years, 11 of them have been converted versions of the concerned brands. In the same time period, more than 125 of all the viable firearms they've recovered have been converted blank firers.
Whilst the amnesty only applies to these five brands of blank firers if they haven’t been converted, other blank firers can be surrendered during this period.
Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop who leads our response to recovering firearms, said: “These particular Bruni models pose a very real risk to our communities because they can be easily converted into potentially, viable lethal firearms.
“By taking part in this amnesty, you’re helping us remove dangerous weapons from circulation and preventing them from falling into the hands.
“Even if these items were bought legally in the past, their possession is now against the law — but this amnesty provides a safe and consequence‑free way to hand them in.
“Our message is simple: if you have one, surrender it. You could be preventing a serious crime or even saving a life.”
If you know of anyone who you believe has access to, owns, or is using a firearm of any type for criminal means, please contact police immediately. You can provide information via 101, their website and LiveChat service, or 999 if the threat is immediate.
Alternatively, you can provide information completely anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.