Cheshire-wide amnesty to be launched to curb circulation of illegal convertible firearms

Across February, the Constabulary will be joining forces from across England, Wales and the National Crime Agency in a national campaign supporting the amnesty of illegal firearms.

The four-week amnesty campaign to remove BRUNI-manufactured Side/Top-Venting Blank-Firing (TVBF) firearms from our streets will take place from Monday 2nd February until Friday 27th February to prevent these illegal firearms from being used in criminal circles.

Whilst in Cheshire gun-related crime remains low, there are growing concerns on the national stage regarding these firearms.

In their original state, TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges. However, recent testing conducted by the National Crime Agency has found that many criminals have been painting the typically bright-coloured weapons black to look similar to lethal firearms.

As well as this, it has been discovered that these weapons can be easily converted using household tools to dispense lethal cartridges.

The weapons are illegal to own under the Firearms Act 1968 as they can be readily converted using common household tools and without specialist skill on the part of the person carrying out the conversion. Recent testing completed by the NCA has demonstrated this.

Anyone found in possession of the following BRUNI models after the deadline of 28 February could be the subject of prosecution and could face 10 years imprisonment:

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank-firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police blank-firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 blank-firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ blank-firing self-loading pistol
• .380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single-action blank-firing revolver

Many TVBFs may be held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or may be overlooked or forgotten by residents in their homes.

This amnesty gives people the chance to dispose of the TVBFs safely by taking them to a local Cheshire Police helpdesk and handing them in.

• Blacon Police Station - Blacon Avenue, Chester CH1 5BD
• Crewe Police Station - Civic Centre, Crewe CW1 2DQ
• Macclesfield Police Station - Brunswick Street, Macclesfield SK10 1HQ
• Warrington Police Station - Arpley Street, Warrington WA1 1LQ
• Widnes Police Station - John Briggs House, Gerrard Street, Widnes WA8 6BE

All helpdesks are open between 8am and 5pm.

Detective Sergeant Jordan Trentini said:

"Gun crime in Cheshire is, thankfully, very rare. With that in mind, we are not complacent about gun crime, which is why we are conducting the BRUNI Top-Venting Firearms Amnesty after tests have shown they can be readily converted into firearms, therefore making them illegal to possess.

"Last February in Cheshire we saw six TBVFs handed in to police under the Operation Pivot amnesty, which has gone a considerable way in keeping our streets safer by preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.

“This year, we want as many side/top-venting blank firers as possible to be handed in as possible and I encourage anyone in possession of one to visit their local police station to hand them in. I would also like to reiterate that anyone who does choose to hand in a TVBF during the amnesty period will not face prosecution.

“You can also choose to do this anonymously, so there is no excuse for not disposing of these kinds of firearms.

"On a local level, your neighbourhood officers will be continually working with our partner agencies and organisations across the county in providing education surrounding the dangers, rules and regulations of firearms to ensure that gun crime remains low and does not become a prevalent problem for the people of Cheshire in the future.”