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Merseyside Police are urging
public to:- 'Give up the Gun' as part of a firearm or ammunition
surrender
MERSEYSIDE Police have joined up with
other Police Forces from across the North West in appealing for people to:-
'Give up the Gun,' with a 2 week surrender of firearms and ammunition,
that stated at 7am, on Monday, 4 April 2016. The surrender will run until to
11.59pm, on Monday, 18 April 2016.
It's been almost 2 years since the last firearms surrender, where Forces ask
members of the public to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and
ammunition, to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands.
Many firearms are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or are
overlooked and forgotten in people's homes.
Others are acquired and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and
intimidate their local communities.
The surrender gives the chance to dispose of the firearm or ammunition with no
questions asked, by simply taking it to a Local Police Station and handing it
in; before a Police Operation to retrieve them takes place.
Surrendering unwanted, unlicensed weapons avoids the risk of them becoming
involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of
firearms in a safe place.
During that period, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for
the illegal possession and can remain anonymous.
During the last surrender on Merseyside, in 2014, a total of 126 weapons
including 25 shotguns, 5 rifles and 11 handguns were handed in together with a
large quantity of ammunition.
The fight against firearms is stronger than ever, thanks to round the clock
disruption from police across the North West and Merseyside Police are working
together with partners to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest
opportunity.
Through collaboration with partner agencies and the general public, we use
various intelligence led methods to locate weapons that have fallen into the
wrong hands, but we need the public's help. We want as many weapons as possible
and would encourage people to hand them in.
1 weapon off the streets is one less that can be used to harm or threaten our
communities. We will use all of the powers and information available to us to
locate this criminality and put a stop to it for good.
Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Holland said:- "The firearms surrender
will run in tandem with our on-going proactive approach to taking firearms off
the streets. In recent years there have been some changes in legislation in
relation to antique firearms and some people may also have replica and
decommissioned firearms in their homes because they have inherited them, or have
a genuine interest in collecting military weapons and paraphernalia. These
weapons could be targeted by those involved in serious and organised crime who
may see the opportunities of converting and using them in criminality. So if you
do own any weapons like this, think long and hard about the potential
consequences. In the wrong hands, these guns can be reactivated and used to
cause fear and intimidation, or even worse could be used to seriously injure, or
kill, someone. Every gun surrendered is one less that can be used by criminals
to commit serious offences."
Weapons and ammunition can be surrendered at the following Police Stations:-
Birkenhead, Marsh Lane, Huyton, St Helens, St Anne Street and Admiral Street.
ACC Holland added:- "I've seen 1st hand the destruction that guns have
caused to families and communities in our area. Every weapon removed from the
streets potentially represents a life saved, or indeed many lives saved. So take
this opportunity to do the right thing and get rid of that deadly weapon. This
surrender will help us realise our goal of having streets that are safe and free
from guns."
If you know of people involved in illegal firearms call the MSOC gun crime
hotline on:- 0800 230 0600 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on:- 0800 555
111. Merseyside Police will act on all information provided in relation to gun
crime.
Crimestoppers is offering a reward up to £1000 for information that leads to the
recovery of a firearm and an arrest and conviction. |
