Four-week blank-firing gun amnesty underway in Northamptonshire
People caught with them after February 28th risk prosecution
Last updated 3rd Feb 2025
Northamptonshire Police is asking people to hand in unwanted and illegal firearms as part of a national four-week amnesty which begins today (February 3).
Coordinated by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS), the firearms surrender will run for just under four weeks from Monday, February 3, to Friday, February 28.
The four-week amnesty is a campaign to remove firearms from falling into the pool of criminally used weapons, with a particular focus on top-venting blank firearms.
In their original state, top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges. When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon.
But since 2021, UK law enforcement has recovered 800 of the guns converted to fire live ammunition.
TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour but criminals paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon.
Such is their popularity with criminals, the number of discharges last year from TVBFs outnumbered those of original lethal purpose (OLP) firearms (64 compared to 42).
The firearms are the Turkish models: Retay, Ekol, Ceonic ISSC and Blow.
They were used in at least four killings in the UK in the last two years.
The four brands – which overwhelmingly account for the number of TVBFs in UK circulation – have been shown to be illegal under section 1(6) of the Firearms Act 1982, meaning that they are prohibited firearms under section 5 (1) of the Firearms Act 1968.
Importers and retailers have been informed and instructed to cease trading them.
Possession of one of the guns after the amnesty ends could result in a prison sentence of 10 years.
Whilst nationally, firearms crime remains low, there are still very serious incidents taking place involving guns and police want to give people the opportunity to hand them in with no questions asked during this four-week amnesty.
During the surrender, police want people to hand in:
- Top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) (specifically Turkish models - Retay, Ekol, Ceonic ISSC and Blow)
- Illegally-held guns and ammunition
- Imitation firearms and air guns
- Other unwanted guns and ammunition including air guns and imitations
- Tasers, stun guns, CS gas, etc.
- Firearms you may have been asked to hide for someone else
What to do
If you have a gun that falls into any of these categories, police are asking that you please hand it in.
Firearms and ammunition can be given up by calling Northamptonshire Police on 101 and making an appointment for the items to be collected. Alternatively, people can visit a police station with a front counter to hand them in. Please make sure they are wrapped up appropriately if you do this and not carried without packaging as this may alarm members of the public.
During the amnesty, those handing over firearms will not face prosecution for illegal possession at the point of surrender, and can remain anonymous.
Operations Inspector Hayley Lythgoe said: “We are supporting this national amnesty as part of our commitment to take as many dangerous weapons off our streets as possible.
“This time round, we are particularly appealing to anyone who might own a top-venting blank firer.
“These firearms were commonly bought for very innocent purposes such as starting races so we believe that a lot of people might own them and be completely unaware that they have now been declared illegal.
“If you think you might possess one, please call us and arrange for it to be handed in, as in the wrong hands, these types of firearms could be turned into a deadly weapon.
“The amnesty will give people the chance to safely dispose of firearms or ammunition by having us discreetly come and collect them from their homes. So whether it’s a TVBF or something else, please get in touch.
“We want more firearms out of circulation to help us better protect people from harm in Northamptonshire. Handing in a firearm could save a life, so I would ask you to do the right thing and hand in your weapon.”
If you know of anyone involved with illegal firearms contact police on 101, get in touch online at www.northants.police.uk, or call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you are a licensed firearm holder and would like advice, please contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.