ANYONE who owns a weapon will be given the opportunity to surrender it at Redditch Police Station as part of efforts to keep weapons off local streets.
The countrywide scheme is open from Thursday to Sunday May 12-29 and gives owners of weapons the opportunity to hand them over.
The scheme is part of ongoing work to prevent guns and ammunition being used for criminal activity.
This campaign does not affect those with legally-held firearms and officers continue to ensure licensed firearms can be used safely.
People who own illegal offensive weapons – such as rapid firing rifles and specific type of knives – and ammunition are urged to hand them over to front counters at the following police stations:
Worcester, Kidderminster, Redditch, Telford, Hereford and Shrewsbury
If the station is closed when they arrive, people can call 999 and wait for a specialist officer to arrive.
A firearm should never be left unattended.
Chief Inspector Sarah Corteen said: “Thankfully gun crime is not a significant issue in West Mercia but we will continue to work hard to keep weapons out of our communities.
“We work closely with our partners and the public and it is vital we reduce opportunities for weapons and ammunition to be used in criminal activity.
“Some people of course have a legitimate reason to own a firearm and we continue to ensure licensed firearms can be used appropriately and safely.
“But previous campaigns have demonstrated that others own unregistered firearms and while they may not be being used, they do have potential to fall into the wrong hands.
“Every gun given up is one fewer that criminals could use.”
People with information about someone they suspect to be in possession of an illegal weapon, can contact West Mercia Police by calling 101 or visiting https://www.westmercia.police.uk/ro/report/.
Police say any information is dealt with in the strictest confidence.
Alternatively, people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting Crimestoppers-UK.org. They are 100 per cent anonymous and totally independent of the police.
