Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
James Holt

People urged to hand in guns and ammo as huge shooting crackdown launched

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

READ MORE Mum sent horrific video of her 12-year-old daughter being beaten up by gang of thugs

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.

Greater Manchester Police are opening up 11 stations across the region for the weapons to be surrendered (ABNM Photography)

“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.

More than 580 firearms have already been handed in as a result of previous firearm surrenders (GMP)

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.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.