FIREARMS owners are being urged to check if their previously lawful weapon is one of five now classified as illegal – and to hand them in safely during a month-long amnesty.
Police forces across England and Wales will be holding a four-week firearms amnesty until February 27 for five models of side or top-venting (TVBFs) weapons manufactured by Bruni.
The following five imitation firearms can be handed in to local police station without fear of prosecution, after tests by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and policing showed they are readily convertible and are therefore illegal to possess:
* 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
Possession of one of the guns after the amnesty ends could result in a prison sentence of 10 years.
TVBFs are legal to buy without a licence by anyone over 18 in the UK, unless they are readily convertible.
In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges.
When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon. TVBFs are sold with at least half of their visible surface painted a bright colour however, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose weapon as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm.
Firearms legislation has not changed; the above Bruni models were legal to own until tests concluded they were readily-convertible using common household tools and without specialist skill.
Under the Firearms Act, that means they are now classified as illegal to possess.
During the amnesty period, those handing in one of the listed Bruni-manufactured TVBFs will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and will not have to give their details.
However, the history of any live firearms handed in will be checked for evidence if its use in crime.
West Midlands Police’s Firearms chief inspector, Sinead Sweeney, said: “We welcome this a four-week firearms amnesty and encourage anyone who owns a listed Bruni-manufactured TVBFs to hand it into one of our front officers.
“Our specialist firearms officers work around the clock to take weapons off our streets. In the previous amnesty, West Midlands Police had 66 firearms and other items surrendered to us which is a lot of lives potentially saved.
“It’s illegal to own, carry or store an illegal or unlicensed gun in the UK, but many don’t know that the minimum sentence for possessing an illegal firearm is five years imprisonment – and that’s without firing a single round. Make the right decision and hand in your weapon.”
Anyone handing in a weapon is advised to check with their local force regarding station locations and opening times, and to receive advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station.
