People in Manchester are being urged to hand over their guns during a two-week long surrender of firearms and ammunition following a 30 per cent drop in firearms discharges over the past 12 months across the region. And, for criminals who refuse to hand over their weapons, police have a stark warning - "it’s only a matter of time before we find them ourselves and bring you to justice.”
From Thursday (May 12) every police force in the UK will partake in the campaign, co-ordinated by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) and will see a crackdown on reducing violent crime and ridding lethal weapons from the streets. The National Firearm Surrender campaign will run until 29 May 2022, with officers from GMP urging people to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to help avoid them 'getting into the wrong hands'
Greater Manchester Police say they are 'determined to rid lethal weapons from our streets' as they also target collectors, licence holders and anyone else who may have inherited a firearm. They added that many firearms could even be being held in innocence of their illegality or forgotten in some people's homes. Firearms can be handed in to 11 different police stations across the region
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More than 580 firearms have already been handed in as a result of previous firearm surrenders. Superintendent John Griffiths, of GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “We are absolutely committed to robustly investigating serious crime, specifically targeting those in possession or transferring firearms as they pose a real, serious threat to not only the Greater Manchester region, but all across the UK.
“Detectives across the force and those within our serious crime division investigate those involved in firearms on a daily basis and a 30 per cent drop in discharges over the last 12 months across the region is a testament of this – but there’s still work to do be done and we’re determined to rid these lethal weapons from our streets.
“This firearm surrender gives those with firearms and ammunition an opportunity to hand them in. Anyone who may have a firearm in their house that may have been inherited, or found, or is being kept for someone else, is urged to hand it to us and free themselves of the burden.
“Criminals who are in possession of firearms or ammunition are urged to hand their items over – this surrender is an opportunity to make the streets safer and if those involved in criminality don’t wish to hand the items over – it’s only a matter of time before we find them ourselves and bring you to justice.”
Illegal possession of a firearm can result in a sentence of up to five years in prison and anyone found guilty of possession with intent to supply could be sentenced to life in prison. And those with stun guns or other devices, such as converted blank-firing firearms or ammunition, are also urged to hand them in.
Superintendent Griffiths added: “Lawful gun license-holders are also encouraged to use the surrender for weapons they no longer have any use for, or even those who have inherited items from grandparents who have passed – this is the time to hand those items in.
“A number of legislative changes have taken place and people may not be aware that an inherited firearm or once legally owned firearm are now illegal. Anyone in possession of a firearm should check the legal status of their items by visiting www.nabis.police.uk.
“Every firearm surrendered is one less that criminals can potentially access and use to cause damage and harm in communities and I would urge people to hand them in at any GMP station. Communities really hold the key to helping reduce crime and providing us with information that may assist with our on-going investigations."
The stations where people can drop off their guns and ammunition
Central Park 8am – 8pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm weekends - Northampton Road, M40 5BQ
Longsight 8am – 8pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm weekends - 2 Grindlow Street, Longsight, Manchester, M13 0LL
Wigan 8am – 8pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm weekends - Robin Park Road, Wigan, WN5 0UP
Bolton 8am – 8pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm weekends - 6-8 Scholey Street, Bolton, BL2 1HD
Bury 8am – 8pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm weekends - Dunster Road, Bury, BL9 0NL
Rochdale 8am – 8pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm weekends - The Holme, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AG
Oldham 8am – 6pm weekdays, 10 – 6pm weekends - Barn Street, Oldham, OL1 1LR
Ashton 8am – 8pm weekdays, 10am to 6pm weekends - Manchester Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 0BQ
Cheadle Heath 8am to 8pm weekdays, 10am to 6pm weekends - Spectrum Way, Stockport, SK3 0SA
Stretford 8am to 8pm weekdays, 10am to 6pm weekends - Talbot Road, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester, M32 0UX
Swinton 8am to 8pm weekdays, 10am to 6pm weekends - Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester, M27 6BA
Members of the public who may know of anyone involved in illegal firearms activity is asked to report it online or via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk, call 101 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
