Norfolk Police are asking people to hand in their guns, as they support a national surrender on firearms and ammunition.

It will run from 20 July – 4 August 2019 in a bid to reduce the availability of illegal firearms to criminals, reduce the number of illegal firearms within local supply chains and ultimately reduce firearm offences in the county.

During this time members of the public will be able to hand over unlicensed weapons without fear of prosecution. This includes replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, component parts and other ballistic items currently lawfully held.

Richard Kennett, Firearms Licensing Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies, said: “In Norfolk we permanently encourage and accept the surrender of firearms. However, this campaign is a good opportunity to remind people who may have un-registered, old weapons that they have forgotten about, or have received one through inheritance that they no longer use, what to do with them.

“Although such weapons aren’t being used for crimes, it’s important that they are handed in to the police to stop them from falling into the wrong hands.

“Fortunately we don’t have a big problem with gun crime in Norfolk and reducing the amount of illegally owned firearms across the county will help reduce the threat of gun crime even further.”

Firearms can be surrendered at Public Enquiry Offices in Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn and Norwich, or to the Firearms Licensing Unit at Police Headquarters in Wymondham during office hours.
Residents should make sure that the firearm is unloaded and covered up, and if possible people are asked to ring the police beforehand on 101 to let officers know that they are bringing a gun in as part of the operation.
For further advice on the surrender, please visit www.norfolk.police.uk or contact the Firearms Licensing Unit in Norfolk on 01953 424141.

For more details about the firearms legislation changes visit the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) website http://www.nabis.police.uk/Legislation