Police Urge Public To ‘Give Up The Gun’ With Firearms Surrender

North Wales Police is joining forces from across the North West in appealing for people to ‘Give up the Gun’ with a two week surrender of firearms and ammunition, starting at 7am on Monday 4 April 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It’s been almost two years since the last firearms surrender, where forces ask members of the public to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The surrender will be held for two weeks from Monday 4 April at 7am to 11.59pm on Monday 18 April. Surrendering unwanted, unlicensed weapons avoids the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During that period, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and can remain anonymous. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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Chief Inspector Neil Thomas North Wales Police said ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many firearms are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. Others are acquired and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate their local communities. The surrender gives the chance to dispose of the firearm or ammunition with no questions asked, by simply taking it to a local police station and handing it in – before a police operation to retrieve them takes place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The fight against firearms is stronger than ever, thanks to round the clock disruption from police across the North West and we are working together with partners to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity. We are fortunate in North Wales not to witness the levels of gun and violent crimes in regional cities but we all have a collective responsibility to recover as many illegally held or unwanted firearms to ensure they don’t end up in the wrong hands on our streets regardless of where that is. This campaign is part of a regional programme primarily aimed at providing a period of time where people can surrender unlicensed weapons and ammunition without the fear of prosecution. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Gun crime in the UK continues to fall however we cannot afford complacency which is why we are conducting a further surrender. In 2014 over 90 firearms were handed into stations across north Wales. One weapon off the streets is one less that can be used to harm or threaten our communities so I’m hopeful of a similar return. We enjoy an excellent relationship with our communities in north wales and I’m certain they’ll be fully behind this campaign and together we can help keep north Wales a safe place to live, work and visit.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We want as many weapons as possible and would encourage people to hand them in. Weapons and ammunition can be surrendered at any police station but anyone handing in a firearm, ammunition or any other weapon during the surrender is advised to check the opening times of their station by calling 101 or visiting the North Wales Police website. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Weapons and ammunition can be surrendered at the following police stations – Wrexham, Mold, Rhyl, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Caernarfon, Bangor and Holyhead. However if people are unable to visit any of these stations they are advised to contact North Wales Police on 101 to make alternative arrangements. Anyone wishing to hand-in firearms should put them in a box or strong bag and put ammunition in a separate box or bag. Never attempt to take an uncovered weapon out in public and do not surrender a firearm/ammunition to a Police Officer/ PCSO in the street or open public area. If it can be avoided do not use public transport to surrender a weapon or ammunition. To receive further advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station phone 101 before travelling. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Winston Roddick CB QC said “There is no reason for using or carrying a gun. The misuse of one gun can destroy a whole family and cause unrest in the whole community. We must all work together to get rid of these weapons off the streets in north Wales and the north west of England. I therefore fully support this firearms surrender”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you know of anyone in possession of illegal firearms call North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​