Police urge illegal firearms owners to surrender items in upcoming amnesty

Cumbria Constabulary are urging those who are holding firearms and ammunition without the valid certification to surrender illegally held items in the upcoming amnesty.

The amnesty, which takes place between the 10th and 21st November, is the first national amnesty in the county since 2004. It will provide an opportunity to hand in replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, antique firearms, component parts and other ballistic items.

The amnesty also provides an opportunity to those who want to safely dispose of their firearms and ammunition as they longer wish to own them.

Chief Inspector David Bosson, said, "This surrender provides an opportunity to those who possess firearms and ammunition, for which they do not hold the valid certification, to hand these into police. 

"Intelligence is collected on a regular basis regarding the number of firearms in circulation across the county. We do this in order to keep the people of Cumbria safe from firearm and ammunition related crime.

"The intelligence we build allows us to target those illegally holding firearms and action can subsequently be taken against these individuals.

"This is your opportunity to hand in firearms or ammunition, free of prosecution for possession of unlawfully-held firearms. Following the amnesty this assurance cannot be given and you could find yourself committing an offence, making you liable for prosecution, which is what we are seeking to avoid.

"Every firearm that is handed into police is one less gun that is out in circulation which could fall into the wrong hands. The potential disastrous consequences of firearms underlines the need for those who do not hold the valid licensing to hand them into to police."

The stations where firearms can be handed in during the two week period are:

North

·         Carlisle

·         Penrith

South

·         Barrow

·         Kendal

·         Ulverston

West

·         Cockermouth

·         Whitehaven

·         Workington

To check on opening times please visit http://www.cumbria.police.uk/contact-us/police-stations.

Authorised firearms officers will be available to collect firearms from those who are unable to attend a police station. For further details in arranging the collection of your firearm or ammunition please contact police on 101.

For specific enquiries in relation to possession of firearms and conditions of your licence you can also call the firearms licensing office on 0330 124 0941.