Welsh police urge people to ‘Keep Wales Safe, give up the gun’

The three police forces of Dyfed-Powys, South Wales and Gwent are appealing for people to ‘Keep Wales Safe, give up the gun’ by surrendering any unlicensed or unwanted firearms, with a two week initiative starting today. (Monday 10th November)

Police are asking members of the public to get in touch regarding any unlawfully held or unwanted firearms and ammunition to help prevent them getting into the wrong hands. It also offers the opportunity for people to safely dispose of firearms that may still have despite an expired certificate or where they are in possession of firearms left over from a family member who may have passed away.During this period, those surrendering firearms and ammunition will not face prosecution for the illegal possession of these items at the time of their collection.

Many firearms are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. This surrender gives people the chance to dispose of any firearms or ammunition, by arranging collection by police officers and trained staff. The initiative will be held for two weeks from Monday 10th November at 7am until 6pm on Friday 21st November.

Dyfed Powys Police Assistant Chief Constable Simon Powell said:

“Dyfed Powys is a very safe place to live, work and visit, and to further safeguard our communities, we want to do all we can to ensure that any unlicensed firearms are disposed of, so that they do not get into the wrong hands. This amnesty is therefore to allow members of the public who may have come into possession of a firearm by innocent means or otherwise, to relinquish those weapons that may be outside the law.”

Licence-holders can be reassured that these measures merely enhance their rights and privileges to own firearms.

Firearms and ammunition can be surrendered to police by contacting your relevant force on 101 and making arrangements for these items to be collected from their homes at mutually convenient times.”