Multiple firearms surrendered to Nottinghamshire Police in voluntary surrender campaign which ends today

Several shotguns, pistols and air weapons have been handed into police during a voluntary surrender campaign.

Nottinghamshire Police joined other forces across the country in asking people to come forward with unwanted guns and ammunition between May 12 and 29.

During this limited window, which closes today, members of the public can hand items in without facing prosecution for possession offences.

The national campaign, organised by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS), took aim at potentially dangerous firearms in people’s homes.

Examples can include war trophies handed down by relatives and antique weapons used for display purposes.

All have the potential to cause considerable harm if they were to fall into the hands of criminals.

During the course of the campaign so far, shotguns, rifles, pistols (including a .38 Calibre Smith & Wesson American Service revolver) and a selection of air weapons were handed in at police stations across the city and county.

Several shotgun cartridges, various Bullets and a starting pistol were also volunteered to surrender, along with a pair of antique muzzle loading guns.

Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Austin, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The aim of this initiative is simple — to take potentially dangerous weapons off the streets before they can fall into the wrong hands or cause harm to anyone in the community.

“Even in cases where weapons have been deactivated or don’t appear to be in working order, they can be restored and still pose a threat to public safety.

“For that reason, I am delighted that so many weapons have been handed in during the surrender period by members of the public. I want to thank each and everyone of them for taking the time to keep other people safe from harm.

“Anyone else with unwanted guns and ammunition in their possession has until Sunday evening to come forward.

“Gun crime is thankfully extremely rare in Nottinghamshire and we aim to keep it that way with a combination of very proactive policing and preventative measures such as this.”

During the two-week campaign, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for illegal items in their possession. However, no exemptions were in place to cover previous offences committed with those weapons.

Anyone with information about illegal firearms can report what they know anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Firearms can be handed in at the following locations:

Radford Road Police Station — 8am-8pm Monday to Sunday

Mansfield Police Station — 8am-8pm Monday to Sunday

Newark Police Station — 10am-6pm Monday to Friday