Nottinghamshire Police supports national Firearms Surrender

People in Nottinghamshire are being given another chance to dispose of their unwanted guns – and prevent them falling into the hands of criminals.

Nottinghamshire Police is supporting the latest national two-week Firearms Surrender, which starts on Saturday 20 July 2019 and runs until Sunday August 4.

During the surrender, weapons can be handed in at the front counters at Mansfield, Newark and Radford Road police stations during their normal opening times.

Those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and they can remain anonymous. The surrender does not give an amnesty for the life of the weapon – previous offences linked to the firearm will be investigated.

The surrender is aimed at giving people the opportunity to play a part in ensuring Nottinghamshire remains a safe place by reducing the potential availability of guns. It will supplement the proactive work being done all year round by Nottinghamshire Police to recover firearms from criminals.

There were a total of 56 police seizures of firearms between January 1 and mid-June this year – as significant resources are targeted at enforcement against serious organised crime.

Nottinghamshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: “This two-week surrender will help prevent firearms getting into the wrong hands and provide members of the community with a safe place to dispose of any firearms they have, whether held lawfully or unlawfully.

“This is a firearms surrender, not an amnesty. The amnesty applies to possession of a firearm at the point of surrender only.

“Nottinghamshire Police remains committed to reducing the risk of harm to our communities from firearms crime and we will continue to vigorously investigate criminal offences linked to any firearm recovered.

“The number of firearms offences has fallen in Nottinghamshire over the last three years and the proportion of incidents per head of the population is below the national average, but we are not complacent.

“By supporting the surrender, people could be saving lives. One weapon off the streets is one less that can be used to harm or threaten our communities.”

During the last surrender in Nottinghamshire in November 2017, over 245 items of firearms and ammunition were taken out of circulation.

Paddy Tipping, Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I’m clear that firearms, in the wrong hands, can cause serious injury or worse.  This surrender gives people the opportunity to hand firearms over to the police to prevent them from falling into the hands of criminals.

“Thankfully the chances of becoming a victim of gun crime Nottinghamshire remains low, but one incident is one too many.  Every firearm that we can take out of circulation is out of harm’s way and I hope that people with old, disused or unwanted firearms, whether they are real, imitation or antique, will take this opportunity to dispose of them responsibly.”    

The surrender initiative is being co-ordinated by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) and police forces across the country are taking part. If you have a firearm to surrender but cannot get to a designated police station during the surrender period, please call 101 for guidance.

Nationally, recorded offences involving firearms decreased by 2% (to 6,525) in the year ending December 2018 compared with the previous year (6,641 offences). The fall in offences is in contrast with recent years where there has been a rising trend. Illegal possession of a firearm can mean five years behind bars and if you are found guilty of possession with intent to supply that can lead to a life sentence. 

If you know of anyone involved with illegal firearms call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you are a licensed firearm holder who wants advice please contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101. For more information about NABIS visit www.nabis.police.uk or follow on Twitter @NABIS_UK