A working firearm and bullets were found discarded behind a garden shed in Toxteth as police issued a stark warning.
Merseyside Police took part in a nationwide campaign co-ordinated by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS), which began on Thursday, May 12 and finished on Sunday, May 29. As a result, 92 weapons were handed in to Merseyside Police by members of the public, of which 36 were working firearms.
The shocking number of weapons included 28 shotguns, three antique revolvers, 19 air rifles, two imitation guns and 10 blank firers. Also recovered was four crossbows, one sword, one mace and 800 live rounds of ammunition.
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Speaking about the surrender on Monday, Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Wilson from Firearm Investigations said some of the imitation firearms had been painted, which would "look real", and could be "frightening and dangerous". She added: "Some of them can be adapted and they can cause serious harm and injury, even across Merseyside we've had firearm related murders."
Land searches were also conducted during the campaign, resulting in a live handgun being found in Birkenhead, concealed in overgrowth and a member of the public came across a working pistol and bullets discarded in Sefton Park. A Toxteth resident also found a working firearm loaded with bullets behind his garden shed.
The Detective Chief Inspector went on to say: "We've had up to six or seven recoveries from gardens, you'd be surprised, so we're really encouraging people, if you're out and about in your garden, the back of your shed, just have a look at it. It sounds ridiculous really, but actually we are recovering firearms because that's what criminality are doing, disposing firearms there for a future date."
Despite some of the weapons being possessed legally, they still have the potential to cause harm if they fall into the wrong hands. As seen in Merseyside already, some firearm-related crimes have been from weapons stolen from a domestic burglary as DCI Wilson added: "It's rare, but it does happen."
She told the ECHO the force was "really pleased" with the surrender as the people of Merseyside were "listening" and trusted the force to hand in their unwanted/unused weapons.
The surrender was designed to give people in possession of firearms an opportunity to hand them in. This was also extended to those who had antique guns, replica and decommissioned firearms which could be converted and reactivated into a working weapon and used for criminal purposes.
Of great significance was two Olympic blank firers, which were outlawed in 2010, due to being a "very dangerous weapon" as well as a shotgun with a "silencer". DCI Rachel Wilson added: "We are committed to protect our communities from criminals and criminal behaviour, so this firearms surrender works in tandem with the proactive work we do throughout the year to take weapons off the streets and put offenders before the courts.
"Even one incident involving a firearm discharge is one too many, and we are determined and relentless in our pursuit to continue to reduce this number. Every single day our officers are doing proactive work to remove guns and other potentially lethal weapons from our streets as part of our ongoing pledge to tackle serious and violent crime, disrupt criminal activity and put those making other people’s lives a misery behind bars.
"I would like to thank everyone who has supported this surrender and handed in their unwanted or unused weapons for safe disposal. Finally, I urge people that if they know where weapons are being stored or who is using them to let us know so that we can take action. Every weapon taken off our streets can save a life or prevent serious injury."
It comes after Merseyside's regional surrender campaign in November 2021, which brings the total to 50 working firearms received. The detective chief inspector said the number of discharges in Merseyside is the "lowest figure for 21 years" with 39 firearms discharges in the region in the year-ending March.
Anyone with information or concerns can contact police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
