GMP Unveils Final Gun Haul

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 08/11/2006

Greater Manchester Police today (Friday, 10 November 2006) released final figures for the haul of firearms surrendered during the Gun Hand In.

During the month-long hand in, which ran from Monday 2 October to Tuesday 31 October 2006, Greater Manchester has had 430 weapons handed in along with over 2,500 rounds of ammunition.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Jones said: "We are really pleased with the response to this campaign.  What has been most encouraging is the type and variety of weapons handed in, which has included 44 real guns.

"From the outset of this campaign we always said that if we only had one gun handed in, then it would be a success.  It would be one less that could be used in a crime or could injure or even take another innocent young life.  We’ve had over 400 handed in, which has taken over 400 guns off our streets and made them a safer place to be.

"Of these, 264 were air weapons, BB guns and replica guns, which is also an excellent result.  These types of weapons can seriously injure people, cause damage to property or, particularly in the case of replicas, look so much like the real thing, they can terrorise individuals and communities.

"The public have been given plenty of time to get rid of any illegal weapons they have without fear of prosecution and we are very grateful for the response of the law-abiding majority.  This hand in is just one of a number of tactics Xcalibre is adopting to tackle gun crime.  GMP is committed to reducing firearms incidents and ridding Greater Manchester’s streets of guns.  Through Xcalibre we will be actively seeking out those who have retained illegal weapons and they can expect to face the full consequences of possessing their firearms before a court."

Apart from weapons of historic interest or those that officers believe may have been used in a crime, the complete haul of firearms and ammunition recovered during the hand in period will be destroyed.