Gun owners urged to hand in newly banned weapons in the West Midlands during February amnesty - here's the latest illegal items
Gun owners across the West Midlands are being urged to check whether a weapon they previously owned legally is now classed as illegal, as police launch a month-long firearms amnesty.
Police forces across England and Wales, including West Midlands Police, are taking part in a four-week amnesty running from February 2 to 27, focusing on five models of blank-firing weapons manufactured by Bruni. Tests carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and police have found that the weapons can be easily converted into live firearms using common household tools, meaning they are now illegal to possess.
The amnesty allows people who own one of the affected weapons to hand it in safely at a designated police station without fear of prosecution and without having to give their personal details.
The five Bruni-manufactured weapons now classified as illegal are:
Bruni BBM Model 92 (8mm PAK) blank-firing self-loading pistol
Bruni BBM New Police (8mm PAK) blank-firing self-loading pistol
Bruni BBM Model 96 (8mm PAK) blank-firing self-loading pistol
Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ (8mm PAK) blank-firing self-loading pistol
Bruni BBM ME Ranger (380R / 9mmK PAK) single-action blank-firing revolver
Police have warned that anyone found in possession of one of the weapons after the amnesty ends could face up to 10 years in prison.
Blank-firing guns, known as top- or side-venting blank firers (TVBFs), are legal to buy without a licence in the UK for anyone over the age of 18, provided they are not readily convertible. In their original state, the weapons have fully blocked barrels and are designed only to fire blank cartridges, with gases venting from the top of the gun.
However, officers say criminals have been converting some models into live firearms and disguising them by painting them black to resemble lethal weapons.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for the criminal use of firearms, said the amnesty was a vital step in keeping communities safe.
“Blank firer weapons are legal to buy in the UK, but when we identify that any models can be easily converted into a functioning firearm, it is crucial that we remove those models from sale and circulation,” he said.
“We work closely with the National Crime Agency to disrupt criminal workshops converting blank firers into potentially lethal weapons, and this four-week amnesty will support those efforts.”
West Midlands Police Firearms Chief Inspector Sinead Sweeney said similar amnesties had already made a significant impact locally.
“In the previous amnesty, West Midlands Police had 66 firearms and other items surrendered to us — that’s a lot of lives potentially saved,” she said.
“Many people don’t realise that the minimum sentence for possessing an illegal firearm is five years in prison, even if it’s never been fired. If you own one of these weapons, make the right decision and hand it in.”
Anyone planning to surrender a weapon is advised to contact their local police force to confirm which stations are accepting firearms and to receive guidance on how to transport the weapon safely.
Police have also urged members of the public with information about illegal firearms to come forward. Information can be reported to police directly or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
