Firearms – whether legally or illegally held – can be lethal in the wrong hands.

That’s why we’re supporting a national surrender month throughout February, during which the public is urged to hand over any weapons or ammunition at a local police station.

Detective Inspector Chris Williams, gun crime lead at South Wales Police, said:

"A firearms surrender provides the public with the opportunity to safely surrender illegal or unwanted firearms, a number of which may be held by people with a lack of awareness of their illegality.

"For example, there was a change to legislation relating to ‘blank firing guns’ towards the end of 2024, which now makes certain models illegal to possess, and some people may not realise that.

"As part of the surrender period, members of the public will be able to take firearms into one of eight designated police stations across south Wales and hand them in at the front counter.

"Our communities should be reassured that gun crime rates in south Wales remain extremely low, and we want to keep it this way.

"As well as traditional firearms such as shotguns and pistols, an imitation firearm, such as a BB gun or an air weapon, can be used to cause injury or perpetrate serious offences. So, every firearm given up really is one less that can fall into the hands of a criminal."

While firearms and other weapons can be handed in to police at any time, surrender months such as this aim to raise awareness of gun crime and also the part the public can play in helping to keep South Wales safe.

During the last surrender month, eighty-three items were handed in to police stations in south Wales, 53 of which were firearms.

Among those who surrendered items were a school and a scout group.

DI Williams added:

"The results of the last surrender period were extremely positive. Often there can be a lack of awareness about the legality of different weapons, or a lack of understanding about how best to dispose of them. The school who surrendered last time, for example, had confiscated an air weapon and had it stored securely as they weren’t sure of the correct method of disposal.”

"The fact so many people came forward demonstrated the value in running such surrenders. I hope to see a similar response this time around, as every single weapon surrendered is one fewer that could potentially fall into the wrong hands."

The firearms surrender will run from February 3rd to 28th. During this period, firearms, ammunition and accessories can be taken to the following stations:

·  Swansea Central

·  Neath

·  Cardiff Bay

·  Cardiff Central

·  Barry

·  Bridgend

·  Merthyr Tydfil

·  Pontypridd

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