Public urged to hand in firearms during two-week surrender

Staffordshire Police is appealing to the public to hand in any unwanted, unlicensed or illegal guns during a national surrender of firearms and ammunition.

The surrender, which starts on Thursday 12th May and will run until Sunday 29th May, is coordinated by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) and supported by police forces.

Many firearms are held in ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. Some firearms are held legally and are no longer required. Other firearms are acquired and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate their local communities.

The national surrender gives people the chance to hand in firearms and ammunition by simply taking them safely to a local police station and handing them over.

Guns and ammunition can be surrendered at a front counter at designated police stations across Staffordshire, anyone handing in a firearm or ammunition is advised to only visit the police stations listed:

 

Burton Police Station

Horninglow Street, DE14 1PA

Monday – Friday

9am until 5pm

 

Longton Police Station

Sutherland Road, ST3 1HH

Monday – Friday

9am until 5pm

 

Cannock Police Station

Wolverhampton Road, WS11 1AW

Monday – Friday

9am until 5pm

 

Leek Police Station

Fountain Street, ST13 6QT

Saturday 21 May and Saturday 28 May only

9am until noon  

 

During the two-week period, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession at the point of surrender and they can remain anonymous. However, the history of each live firearm will be checked for evidence of its use in crime.

Firearms and Explosives Licensing Manager, Jon Cumberbatch said: “Surrendering unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition avoids the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place.

“Weapons must be transported to the police station in the safest possible way that does not cause alarm to others. If you would like further information or are unable to travel please call 101 or message Staffordshire Police on Facebook or Twitter for advice.

“Firearms incidents continue to be low in Staffordshire and to ensure that it doesn’t become prevalent in the future, we are working with partners and local communities to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity. Every gun given up is one fewer that criminals could use.”

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms call police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For more information visit NABIS: National Firearms Surrender (nabis.police.uk)