Aiming for a safer future

Firearms surrender hailed a success

Dozens of unwanted firearms or air weapons, along with ammunition, are now off the streets of Lanarkshire.

Police Scotland seized a total of 22 firearms, 66 air weapons and 15 lots of ammunition during their two-week amnesty.

The public were encouraged to surrender firearms and ammunition at police stations across county as part of the Firearms Surrender Campaign.

From June 18 until July 1, people in possession of firearms and ammunition for which they do not hold a valid certificate, were given the opportunity to surrender them to police.

In addition to this, the public were able to hand over replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, component parts and other ballistic items.

The Scotland-wide campaign saw a total of 474 firearms, 690 air weapons and 337 lots of ammunition handed over during the fortnight.

Significant weapons handed into stations across the country included a machine gun, an AK47 assault rifle and a World War I pistol.

Inspector Derek Hamilton said: “The campaign has been a huge success across the area.

“Protecting the public is at the forefront of policing, and reducing the number of illegal or unwanted firearms lowers the risk of harm within our communities.

“Although the surrender campaign has now come to an end, we continue to work to remove illegally-held weapons circulating across Lanarkshire.”

Justice secretary Humza Yousaf said: “This successful firearms surrender campaign has seen the removal of over 1500 unwanted weapons from our communities – stopping them falling into the wrong hands.

“Whilst firearms offences are at historically low levels in Scotland, we will continue to work with Police Scotland to keep Scotland’s streets safe.”

Reducing the number of illegal or unwanted firearms lowers the risk of harm within our communities

Campaign Inspector Derek Hamilton with some of the recovered weapons

Potential for trouble These weapons are now off the streets