Deadly weapons taken off streets

Sixteen guns from Oldham were handed in to Greater Manchester police during a Give Up The Gun firearms amnesty.

They were among 221 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition surrendered to police in the fortnight to April 18.

During that time the public had the chance to dispose of firearms anonymously by taking it to a local police station without fear of prosecution for illegal possession.

GMP assistant chief constable John O’Hare said: “There is a real mix of firearms ranging from real guns to replicas and vintage guns.

“If these guns were lost or stolen they could end up in the wrong hands.

“We’re really happy with the surrender because guns and criminals do not respect any force area and these weapons are now off the street.

“Even replicas and deactivated guns are dangerous, any one with a trigger and a barrel can be reactivated.

“If they were held in front of you they would still be threatening.

“There will be continued efforts from GMP, our colleagues across the North-West and our partners as we work together to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity.”

“If you are a license holder or qualified collector of firearms, please conduct regular checks to ensure your weapons are secured and cannot be tampered with.”

Across the North-West a total of 811 weapons were surrendered to the police.

The haul of weapons included rifles, shotguns, handguns and air weapons as well as imitation and antique firearms.

The most unusual items include a replica AK-47, a number of wartime relics and a Smith & Wesson pistol.

Jim Battle, Greater Manchester deputy police and crime commissioner, said: “The message has got out to the public through the media and we have had 221 guns handed in plus a lot of ammunition.

“We have significant results from the public and that means the word has got out there.

Listening

“We have a number of actions, working with the public is one and this shows the public is definitely listening to the threat of guns.

“We have had ammunition handed in which helps, what we have got here is people who have handed over their ammunition and that is now in safe hands rather than a criminals.”

Members of the public can always hand weapons to the police whether licence holders o0r otherwise by calling their local police enquiry desk or 101 for assistance.