Guns amnesty 'brings results'

Guns amnesty 'brings results'

The amnesty will run for four weeks

A guns amnesty is already bringing "results", according to Scotland's largest police force.

A total of 60 firearms have been handed in to Strathclyde Police during the first week of the amnesty.

The force reported that 1,204 rounds of ammunition have also been surrendered so far.

Police chiefs said they believe more weapons will be handed in as the month-long crackdown, launched last Monday, continues.

Replica guns

But despite the haul they insisted the area does not have a 'gun culture'.

The amnesty urges people to get rid of both illegal firearms and legitimately-held guns no longer in use.

The haul so far includes a 9mm Browning, a number of shotguns, air weapons and replica guns.

A baton, a dagger, a knife, and a First World War flare have also been given up.

Senior officers said there were many more weapons still in circulation and pointed to examples recovered during police raids outside the amnesty.

It is time to reduce the potential threat posed by firearms, to reduce the fear of crime and to make our own streets safer for everyone.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Halpin

Sixteen shotguns, two rifles, one stun gun, one 8mm cartridge, a blank firing pistol and 3,000 rounds of ammunition were seized at addresses in the last week.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Halpin said: "Just a week into the amnesty and we are already getting results.

"People are beginning to realise that it is unacceptable to carry weapons on the streets of Strathclyde.

"It is time to reduce the potential threat posed by firearms, to reduce the fear of crime and to make our own streets safer for everyone."

Causing injury

Despite the hauls, Detective Chief Superintendent Halpin insisted gun crime is not endemic in Strathclyde.

He said that only a small proportion of crimes within the force area involved firearms.

Detective Chief Superintendent Halpin went on: "The aim is to remove as many weapons as possible - principally guns of all types.

"But also knives and indeed anything capable of causing injury - to avoid them being misused."