North Yorkshire Police hold weapons amnesty for illegal blank-firing guns
North Yorkshire Police is holding a four-week Firearms Amnesty for five types of BRUNI-manufactured side/ top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) which are now illegal to possess following testing by the National Crime Agency.
The amnesty will take place between Monday February 2 and Friday February 27, after which anyone in possession of one the specified TVBFs could be subject to prosecution and face up to 10 years imprisonment.
Side/top-venting blank firers are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18's unless they are readily convertible. Tests have shown that the following BRUNI models are readily convertible and are therefore illegal: • 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank firing self-loading pistol • 8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police blank firing self-loading pistol • 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 blank firing self-loading pistol • 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ blank firing self-loading pistol • .380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single-action blank firing revolver
These can be handed in at several police stations across North Yorkshire, this includes Northallerton, Scarborough, and Fulford Road.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “Gun crime in North Yorkshire remains very rare but we are not complacent about gun crime, which is why we are supported the national BRUNI TVBF firearms amnesty, after tests have shown they can be readily converted into firearms and therefore making them illegal to possess.”
In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges that, when discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon.
TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour however, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon, as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm.
Other unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition may be surrendered at any time which will avoid the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place.
The spokesperson continued: “Surrendering these weapons now will help prevent them getting into the wrong hands in the future and being used by criminals, so we want as many top-venting blank firers as possible to be handed in.
"Together with our partners we continually work hard to educate people about firearms and the dangers that come with them, to ensure that gun crime doesn’t become prevalent in the future.
“Please contact 101 for information on how best to transport the weapon responsibly to the police station.
"Anyone with information about illegal firearms activity is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police immediately or alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.”