46 blank firing guns handed in during firearms amnesty

Final figures released recently show the following weapons were surrendered across the force area as part of a campaign across England and Wales between 2 February and 27 February:

- 14 x ‘GAP’ 8mm blank firing self-loading pistols

- 12 x 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank firing self-loading pistols

- 10 x .380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single-action blank firing revolvers

- Eight ME Ranger .380R PAK single-action blank firing revolvers

- Two ‘New Police’ 8mm PAK self-loading pistols

The amnesty was held after testing of the Bruni-manufactured Side/ Top Venting Blank Firers (TVBFs) by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and police found five models were shown to have been shown to be readily convertible and therefore illegal.

TVBFs are blank-firing guns with fully blocked barrels, designed solely to discharge blank cartridges.

The blank-firing guns were previously legal to purchase in the UK by people over 18. In their original state, they were designed to discharge only blank cartridges.

Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Woods said: “Gun crime in the West Mercia Police force area remains very rare but we are not complacent about it, which is why we supported the Bruni TVBF firearms amnesty last month, after tests showed they can be readily converted into firearms, therefore making them illegal to possess.

“We are pleased that 46 of these weapons were surrendered across our three counties during February which has helped prevent them getting into the wrong hands in the future and potentially being used by criminals.”

Unwanted or unlicensed firearms and ammunition may be surrendered to police at any time, avoiding the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and ensuring safe disposal.

Anyone who wants to hand in a firearm or ammunition should call the police first on 101 to arrange this.

Anyone with information about illegal firearms activity should also call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.