Essex Police Joins National Firearms Amnesty to Tackle Gun Crime
Essex Police is participating in a national firearms amnesty from February 3-28, urging owners to surrender specific blank-firing guns.
Crime
Essex, UK, Firearms, Amnesty, Police
Essex: Police are asking people to hand in certain blank-firing guns. This is part of a month-long national amnesty. It runs from February 3 to 28.
Essex Police is involved in this effort. The amnesty focuses on Turkish manufactured top-venting blank firearms, known as TVBFs.
If you have one of these specific brands, it’s best to surrender it. Keeping it could lead to prosecution and a possible 10-year prison sentence.
The brands included in this amnesty are Blow, Ceonic, Ekol, and Retay. These guns are legal to buy in the UK, but they can be converted into real firearms.
During the amnesty, you can hand in your TVBF without facing any legal consequences. You won’t even need to provide your personal details.
Other unwanted firearms can be surrendered anytime under the usual procedures. But this amnesty is specifically for the four brands mentioned.
You can drop off these guns at various police stations across Essex. Locations include Basildon, Southend, Harlow, Grays, Colchester, Clacton, Braintree, and Chelmsford.
Temporary Chief Inspector Julia Finch emphasized the importance of this amnesty. She noted that while gun crime is low in Essex, it’s crucial to remain vigilant.
She encouraged anyone with a TVBF to bring it in. This helps prevent these guns from falling into the wrong hands.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe added that these blank-firing guns can be converted into lethal weapons. He highlighted the ongoing efforts to disrupt illegal firearms activity.
If you know someone involved in illegal firearms, report it to the police at 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.