Last chance for public to surrender firearms in Nottinghamshire Police initiative

Nottinghamshire Police are warning the public of their final chance to hand-in their unwanted firearms.

The public will be able to surrender their firearms until tomorrow (Sunday) to prevent guns falling into the hands of criminals.

Weapons can be handed in at the front counters at Newark police station during normal opening times, as well as Mansfield and Radford Road stations.

"I am clear that firearms, in the wrong hands, can cause serious injury or worse. This surrender gives people the opportunity to hand firearms over to the police to prevent them from falling into the hands of criminals," said Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping.

"Thankfully the chances of becoming a victim of gun crime Nottinghamshire remains low, but one incident is one too many.

"Every firearm that we can take out of circulation is out of harm’s way and I hope that people with old, disused or unwanted firearms, whether they are real, imitation or antique, will take this opportunity to dispose of them responsibly."

The aim of the surrender is to play a part in ensuring Nottinghamshire remains a safe place to live and work by reducing the potential availability of guns.

Individuals who hand-in weapons and firearms will not face prosecution for illegal possession and they can remain anonymous.

The surrender does not give an amnesty for the life of the weapon as previous offences linked to the firearm will be investigated.

It comes after a total of 56 firearms were seized by police between January and June 2019.

And during the last surrender in Nottinghamshire in November 2017, over 245 firearm items and ammunition were taken out of circulation.

Nottinghamshire Police, Assistant Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: "This two-week surrender will help prevent firearms getting into the wrong hands and provide members of the community with a safe place to dispose of any firearms they have, whether held lawfully or unlawfully.

"This is a firearms surrender, not an amnesty. The amnesty applies to possession of a firearm at the point of surrender only.

“Nottinghamshire Police remains committed to reducing the risk of harm to our communities from firearms crime and we will continue to vigorously investigate criminal offences linked to any firearm recovered."

If you know of anyone involved with illegal firearms call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If you are a licensed firearm holder who wants advice please contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101.

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