Elderly man hands over nine weapons during amnesty

An elderly Fife man has handed over nine weapons and ammunition to police under the Firearms Surrender Campaign.

The man surrendered the items at Glenrothes Police Station on Friday.

Police Scotland launched the campaign on June 18 in an effort to eliminate illegally held firearms which could pose a danger to the public.

Across Scotland 43 police stations are accepting unwanted weapons as part of the campaign, which runs until this Sunday.

Chief Superintendent Colin Gall, divisional commander for Fife, said: “One of the outcomes of this campaign is about removing dangerous weapons from the street to reduce the amount of illegally held firearms within the public arena.

“There is always the possibility that weapons such as the ones handed in can fall into the hands of criminals either through lack of security or other criminal means.”

During the campaign, weapons can be handed over without prosecution.

“Often weapons are found in attics, garages, sheds or handed down generations within families.

“I request those with ownership of weapons or ammunition in these circumstances to hand them in with the knowledge that this period is a time of amnesty,” Chief Supt Gall said.

“It would also be helpful if family and friends could assist those less able to check their property for weapons.

“The campaign still has another week to go, so we would ask anyone with firearms and ammunition to surrender them at a police station,” he added.