More than 200 firearms have been taken off the region’s streets as part of Greater Manchester Police’s Give Up The Gun initiative.
The firearms amnesty, which allowed people in possession of weapons to dispose of them without prosecution, recovered 225 firearms and more than 3000 rounds of ammunition.
Running between July 12-26, a range of weapons were recovered including nine rifles, 26 shotguns, 51 handguns and a shotgun disguised as a walking stick.
More than 80 of the firearms turned in were illegally owned.
Detective Chief Inspector Debbie Dooley of the Xcalibre Task Force called the amnesty ‘a remarkable success’.
“Gun crime in Manchester continues to fall year on year. The amnesty may be over, but our war against gun crime is not,” she said.
“This is a result of continued efforts from the force and our partners working together to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester Tony Lloyd also praised the operation.
He said: “We know the misery weapons like these can cause to our communities so it is great news that so many of them have been taken off our streets.”
The scheme’s success comes in a positive year for firearms statistics in Greater Manchester.
Between April 2013 and March 2014, the region has seen the lowest number of firearms discharges since records began in 2003/04, with only 21 recorded incidents.
There have been no firearm related fatalities in the region since September 2012.
DCI Dooley urged any members of the public still wishing to dispose of a firearm to call their local police enquiry desk on 101 for further assistance.
Image courtesy of GMP, with thanks
