Almost 50 guns 'surrendered' to local police

A total of 181 firearms and ammunition items have been handed into Thames Valley Police during a firearms surrender campaign last month.

The force appealed to the public to hand in any unwanted guns or ammunition between 12^th May – 29^th May, as part of a scheme coordinated by The National Ballistics Intelligence Service.

Across the Thames Valley region, 181 items were handed in, which included 48 guns.

Latest statistics show that to year ending 31^st March 2021, 36 people were killed by gun shots in the UK.

Gun crime offences have been decreasing significantly in the Thames Valley over the past 15 years, with 322 offences involving a firearms committed in 2007/08, as opposed to just 51 last year.

[PICTURE: Gun Crime in Thames Valley]

Many firearms are held in ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. Some firearms are held legally and are no longer required. Other firearms are acquired and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate their local communities.

The surrender allowed people to hand in firearms and ammunition by contacting the police.

Head of Firearms at Thames Valley Police, Superintendent Gavin Wong said: “Thank you to everyone who handed in any firearms or ammunition as part of the firearms surrender.

“This means that there are now 181 fewer firearms and items of ammunition that were either unwanted or held in ignorance of their illegality, which could have easily fallen into the hands of criminals.

“Thames Valley Police’s fight against gun crime is stronger than ever, as we work with our partners and local communities to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity.

“We use various overt and covert tactics to locate weapons that have fallen into the wrong hands, but we also need the public’s help to ensure unwanted, unlicensed or illegal firearms are handed in.

“Thankfully, firearms crime remains low across the country, and the national surrender prevents firearms from falling into the pool of criminally used weapons.

“Although the firearms surrender has now concluded, anyone who finds a firearm or is uncertain about the lawful possession of a firearm, please call police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

“Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously via its website or by calling 0800 555 111.”