West Mercia Police Collect 46 Bruni Blank-Firing Guns in Amnesty
West Mercia Police have successfully gathered scores of Bruni blank-firing guns during a dedicated firearms amnesty held throughout February. This initiative was part of a broader campaign across England and Wales, aimed at removing potentially dangerous weapons from circulation.
Details of the Surrendered Firearms
In total, up to 46 guns were surrendered within the West Mercia Police force area. The collection included a variety of models, such as 14 'GAP' 8mm blank firing self-loading pistols, 12 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank firing self-loading pistols, and 10 .380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single-action blank firing revolvers.
Additionally, eight ME Ranger .380R PAK single-action blank firing revolvers and two 'New Police' 8mm PAK self-loading pistols were handed in. These weapons were previously legal for purchase in the UK by individuals over 18, as they were designed solely to discharge blank cartridges with fully blocked barrels.
Reason Behind the Amnesty
The amnesty was prompted by testing conducted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and police forces, which revealed that five models of Bruni-manufactured Side/Top Venting Blank Firers (TVBFs) could be readily converted into functional firearms. This conversion capability rendered them illegal under UK law.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Woods commented on the operation, stating, "Gun crime in the West Mercia Police force area remains very rare but we are not complacent about it, which is why we supported the Bruni TVBF firearms amnesty last month, after tests showed they can be readily converted into firearms, therefore making them illegal to possess."
She added, "We are pleased that 46 of these weapons were surrendered across our three counties during February, which has helped prevent them from getting into the wrong hands in the future and potentially being used by criminals."
Ongoing Efforts and Public Safety
Police emphasize that unwanted or unlicensed firearms and ammunition can be surrendered at any time to avoid the risk of them being involved in criminal activities. This process ensures safe disposal and contributes to community safety.
Individuals wishing to hand in a firearm or ammunition are advised to contact the police first by calling 101 to arrange a safe surrender. For those with information about illegal firearms activity, reporting can be done by calling the police on 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
Every report to Crimestoppers is completely anonymous and could potentially save lives by preventing firearms from falling into the wrong hands. This amnesty highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to proactively address gun-related risks and enhance public security across the region.
