TEN potentially lethal firearms have been taken off the region’s streets as West Midlands Police encourage gun owners to hand them in or face prosecution.
The force has joined a month-long amnesty around Turkish-manufactured, top-venting blank firer (TVBF) handguns, which started on February 3.
Testing from the National Crime Agency and policing has established four models are readily convertible and are now considered to be illegal, like other firearms.
It means anyone caught with one can face up to 10 years in prison.
In less than a week 10 of the weapons were handed in and made safe by officers so that they can be destroyed.
In their original state, TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel, have a visible painted surface and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges.
However, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal-purpose weapon, as well as convert them to a fully functioning firearm.
Since 2021, UK law enforcement has recovered more than 800 of the guns in criminal circumstances and converted blank firers have been used in at least four homicides in the UK in the last two years.
The firearms are the Turkish brands: Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow.
The amnesty is being held to offer owners the opportunity to hand in any TVBFs before February 28 to help them avoid prosecution and prevent these pistols getting into the wrong hands.
Anyone with a TVBF can:
- Safely take it to a Solihull Police station on Homer Road between 8am and 10pm or Coventry Central Police Station on Little Park Street between 8am and 10pm until February 28.
- Other unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition may be surrendered to police 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.
- During the amnesty period, those handing in a Turkish manufactured TVBF will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and will not have to give their details.
- Any live firearms handed in will be checked for evidence of its use in crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas said: “Gun crime in the West Midlands is rare but we are not complacent, which is why we are part of the national amnesty for Turkish Top-Venting Firearms as we understand the threat they can pose to our communities by those seeking to act outside of the law.
“Tests have shown they can be readily converted into firearms, therefore making them illegal to possess.
“Surrendering these weapons will help prevent them getting into the wrong hands in the future and being used by criminals.
“We want as many top-venting blank firers as possible to be handed in and I encourage anyone in possession of one to visit their local police station.”
To receive advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station phone 101 before travelling.
Anyone who knows of people involved in illegal firearms activity should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Always dial 999 in an emergency.
