GMP unveils final gun haul
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has released its final figures for the haul of firearms surrendered in the Gun Hand In. During the month-long hand in, which ran from Monday 2 October to Tuesday 31 October 2006, GMP has had 430 weapons and over 2,500 rounds of ammunition handed in.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has released its final figures for the haul of firearms surrendered in the Gun Hand In. During the month-long hand in, which ran from Monday 2 October to Tuesday 31 October 2006, GMP has had 430 weapons and over 2,500 rounds of ammunition handed in.
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Jones said the force was pleased with the response, particularly the type and variety of weapons handed in, which included 44 real guns.
He said: 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. Weve 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.
The hand in is part of Xcalibre, GMPs gun crime initiative. 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.