Forty blank-firing guns handed in during amnesty

Forty blank-firing guns capable of being converted into lethal weapons have been handed in to police in West Yorkshire as part of month-long amnesty.

The force appealed to members of the public to surrender five models of side or top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) from Italian manufacturer Bruni.

The national amnesty saw more than 590 of the targeted models handed in during the first fortnight.

West Yorkshire Police said they received guns from members of the public as well as from dog training companies, athletics clubs and other specialists who may use blank-firing weapons in the course of their work.

Anyone found with one of the guns could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years after they were deemed illegal - but those who handed them in in February could do so without penalty.

The guns are not real live‑firing weapons in their original form but tests by the National Crime Agency (NCA) found they could easily be converted using basic tools to shoot live rounds, so they were made illegal.

The amnesty focused on five particular models:

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank firing self-loading pistol

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police blank firing self-loading pistol

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 blank firing self-loading pistol

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 'GAP' blank firing self-loading pistol

• 380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single-action blank firing revolver

Suptt Emma Cheney, head of armed policing at West Yorkshire Police, said: "Every single weapon we take off the streets is a weapon that can now not fall into criminal hands.

"We know that the majority of people who have purchased the Bruni blank firers did so in good faith and with no criminal intent, but the fact remains that these weapons have the potential to be converted and used in serious criminality were they to fall into the wrong hands in the future."

She added: "I am grateful to all the members of the public who have supported us with this by coming forward to surrender weapons during this amnesty."

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