First weapons amnesty 'a success'

Handguns, machetes, crossbows and meat cleavers were among weapons handed in to police in Derby in four weeks.

In the city's first gun and knife amnesty, 72 guns and around 200 knives were handed in.

Officers said they were so impressed with the amnesty, which ended on Sunday, it could be repeated.

The initiative was in response to the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Kadeem Blackwood last year. Two people have been charged with his murder.

Mark Kennells, from the city's crime prevention unit, said: "I think it is fair to say it is in excess of what we expected - 72 guns is quite a surprise.

"That said, many of them are not working guns, they are ornaments and there are quite a few air pistols and air rifles in there.

"But it is a tremendous success, it is 72 guns which might otherwise fall into the wrong hands, be stolen in a burglary and be used in a crime."

Alongside the amnesty, police have been running Operation Redshank, a crackdown on gun crime which has seen about a dozen live-firing weapons seized.

Among these are a sawn off shotgun and two home made handguns.

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