Can I hand in these Second World War machineguns please, officer?
TWO Second World War machineguns were among more than 140 firearms handed in to the Met in the first week of a guns amnesty.
The weapons, which had been deactivated, were among five automatic firearms handed in, along with 31 shotguns, 11 pistols, 10 handguns, nine revolvers and six rifles. Some 3,859 rounds of ammunition were surrendered, along with 48 air weapons.
The national gun surrender drive was launched on November 13 and ends on Sunday.
Police in London say shotguns and pistols have become the weapon of choice for gangsters, with many being stolen from legitimate owners.
Detective Superintendent Mike Balcombe, of the Met’s Trident gangs unit, said: “We are very pleased with the public response to the first week of the gun surrender. Every firearm handed in to police makes the city safer, as it prevents them from falling into the hands of criminals.
“The Trident unit is committed to reducing gun crime and I would urge anyone who is in possession of an illegal firearm to visit their local 24-hour police station during the final days of the gun surrender.” Firearms can be handed in this week at any of the Met’s 24-hour police stations or Bishopsgate police station in the City.
If anyone has any information about someone they believe is in pos- session of an illegal gun, they can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The amnesty coincided with the launch of a Scotland Yard video campaign urging people to give up their guns to keep them out of the hands of criminals.
A 42 per cent surge in gun crime offences was reported in London over the 12 months to April, when Met commissioner Cressida Dick spoke of her “huge concern” about the rise in such offences.