Cumbria Police hold weapons amnesty

Knives collected in a weapons amnesty Credit: Press Association

Police are urging people in Cumbria to hand in any unwanted or unlawfully held guns, knives or other weapons in a county-wide amnesty.

The surrender takes place from April 4- April 18. The force is joining others across the North-West region in holding a firearms surrender in a bid to prevent them getting into the wrong hands.

Police say many firearms are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes.

Some though are acquired and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate their local communities. The surrender gives the chance to dispose of the firearm or ammunition with no questions asked, by simply taking it to a police station and handing it in.

Members of the public can also surrender items that have the potential to be converted such as antique guns, blank firing replicas and imitations.

The force is widening the remit of the surrender to include knives and other weapons and the initiative encourages weapons to be handed in with immunity from prosecution for the simple possession offence.

Police are working closely with the National Ballistic Intelligence Service (NABIS) who offer forensic, tactical and strategic intelligence to tackle all aspects of firearms related crime.

Weapons can be handed in at the following police stations:

  • Carlisle

  • Penrith

  • Barrow

  • Kendal

  • Whitehaven

  • Workington

Authorised firearms officers will be available to collect firearms from those who are unable to attend a police station. For further details in arranging the collection of your firearm or ammunition please contact police on 101.

For specific enquiries in relation to possession of firearms and conditions of your licence you can also call the firearms licensing office on 0330 124 0941.