Three firearms handed in to police stations within hours after launch of firearms surrender

Three firearms were handed in to police stations on Merseyside just hours after we launched our two week firearms surrender.

A ball bearing pistol was handed in at Southport police station, a Webley air pistol and pellets was handed in at a police station in Wirral and an Olympic pin revolver (starting pistol) and blank cartridges was handed in at St Anne Street police station.

All three weapons, which were handed in on Saturday, were found in the attics of residents and were believed to have previously been owned by elderly family members.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Baker said: “Although the three weapons consisted of a blank firer, an air pistol and a BB gun it is nonetheless important that they are handed over.

“Often weapons such as these fall into the wrong hands and are used to cause fear or intimidation. A person threatened at gunpoint during a robbery won’t know the difference between a real and an imitation firearm.

“I am pleased that our message is already getting out there and that within hours of our surrender people were already handing in weapons so they can be correctly disposed of.

“I would continue to appeal for anyone who has weapons they no longer use or have discovered – perhaps in the property of an elderly relative or forgotten in a garage or shed – to hand them in at our designated police stations or contact us so we can arrange for their collection.

“I would also continue to appeal for anyone who knows where weapons are being stored, or believes that a vulnerable person is being threatened or intimidated into storing a weapon, to let us know so we can take action.”

This year’s national firearms surrender started on Saturday (20^th July) and runs until Sunday 4^th August.

The police stations in Merseyside which will be accepting guns and ammunition during the surrender are: Birkenhead, St Helens police station on College Street, St Ann Street, Southport and Huyton but people are being advised to check the opening times of the stations in advance by messaging @MerPolCC, messaging @MerPolCC, calling 101 or visiting the Merseyside Police website – www.merseyside.police.uk