Local News

Cleveland Police is holding a two week amnesty for the surrender of firearms and ammunition, from Saturday 1st November to midnight on Sunday 16th November.

Firearms legislation has changed recently and the police are asking people to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to help avoid them getting into the wrong hands.

During the amnesty, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and they can remain anonymous. However, the history of each live weapon will be checked for evidence of its use in crimes.

Many firearms may be held in innocence and ignorance of their legality or may be overlooked or forgotten in people’s homes. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of the firearm or ammunition safely by taking it to a local police station and handing it in.

Surrendering unwanted, unlicensed weapons avoids the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place.

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Nickless said: “We recognise that in Cleveland we have very few issues with gun crime, however, we have had instances whereby people have come into possession of a firearm unintentionally, for example, whilst clearing out a relatives’ home. Those people can bring the firearms to us so that they are disposed of in a safe manner without the fear of consequences for illegal possession of the weapon.”

Weapons and ammunition can be surrendered at any police station, but anyone handing in a firearm during the amnesty is advised to check the opening times of the station. Collection can be arranged but will not be available in all circumstances. Anyone wanting advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station can contact 101 before travelling. 

Anyone with information regarding illegal firearms activity can also call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.