National firearms amnesty

Cheshire Police is urging residents to help make Cheshire even safer by handing in unwanted firearms or ammunition as part of nationwide firearms surrender.

It can often be the case that some people have a firearm long-forgotten and gathering dust in a loft or shed, while others don’t realise the firearm they have needs to be legally registered with police. Others are acquired illegally and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate.

The national firearms surrender, which runs from 13 to 26 November, gives people the chance to safely dispose of firearms or ammunition, whether held lawfully or unlawfully, without the risk of being prosecuted for illegally possessing a firearm.

Inspector Dave Price said: “Gun crime in Cheshire is low and that’s the way we want to keep it, which is why I would urge people to use this surrender as an opportunity to handover any unwanted firearms, whether that’s an illegal firearm that they have in their possession, a licenced firearm that they no longer used or a wartime family relic that they don’t know what to do with. By handing any unwanted firearms over to us we can ensure that they are disposed of safely and don’t get into the wrong hands.”

Throughout the two week surrender members of the public will be able to hand in firearms or ammunition at any of the following police helpdesks:

• Chester Police station, Blacon Road, Chester
• Crewe Police Station, Civic Centre, Crewe
• Macclesfield Police station, Brunswick Street, Macclesfield
• Northwich Police station, Chesterway, Northwich
• Warrington Police Station, Arpley Street, Warrington
• Widnes Police Station, Gerrard Street, Widnes

All the weapons handed to officers will be examined to ensure that they have not been used in any criminal offences, before being deactivated and destroyed.

Anyone concerned about illegal weapons in their local community is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101, alternatively information can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.