Four week amnesty in West Yorkshire after blank-firing guns made illegal
West Yorkshire Police is holding a four-week amnesty after specific types of blank-firing weapons have been deemed illegal.
Officers are urging people in possession of five models of Italian-made top-venting blank firers (TVBF) to hand them in.
Tests by the National Crime Agency found that the guns can be easily converted into lethal firearms.
The amnesty is designed to remove these models from circulation and enable those who bought one of the weapons legally to dispose of it safely at their local police station.
Those who surrender their firearms during the amnesty will not have to give their details or face prosecution.
Anyone in possession of these weapons after the amnesty period is up could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
The following imitation firearms are now illegal to possess under the Firearms Act:
- 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
These blank firer weapons are designed to only discharge blank cartridges, but they are readily convertible using common household tools.
TVBFs are legal to buy without a licence by anyone over 18 in the UK, unless they are readily convertible.
The history of any live firearms handed in will be checked for evidence of its use on crime.
Superintendent Emma Cheney, head of Armed Policing at West Yorkshire police, said: “Tackling gun crime is a force priority and there is evidence that TVBFs have been used in serious criminality in our communities.
“We are determined to continue working to disrupt the national supply and criminal use of firearms and we want as many of these weapons as possible to be handed in to prevent them getting into the wrong hands in the future.”
The weapons can be handed in to the following stations:
- Calderdale District HQ
- Dewsbury Police Station
- Keighley Police Station
- Bradford District HQ
- Kirklees District HQ
- Leeds District HQ
- Wakefield District HQ
Members of the public are urged to call police on 101 before travelling to receive advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly.