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Londoners give up their guns

The Metropolitan Police says 68 firearms and 1,000 rounds of ammunition have been handed in at police stations across the capital, as part of its Firearms Surrender campaign.

The surrender gives Londoners the chance to dispose of firearms or ammunition, by taking it to a local police station and handing it in. It will run until 11pm on 23 November.

During the two-week period, those surrendering firearms may not face prosecution for illegal possession and they can remain anonymous, however each live weapon will be forensically checked for evidence.

A webpage publicising the surrender and featuring a map for users to check the location of their nearest police station has been placed on the Met’s website

“We have had a fantastic response from Londoners since the surrender was launched. The initiative provides an opportunity to significantly reduce the number of firearms in circulation on the streets of London. I encourage anyone who may be in possession of unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to hand them in to your local police station to avoid them getting into the hands of criminals and help reduce gun crime in the capital.”

– Detective Chief Inspector Gary Bruce, Trident Gang Crime Command
Artist Lucy Wood, with just one of over 5,000 broken pieces of firearms from a previous amnesty, which were used to create an artwork Credit: John Stillwell/PA Archive/Press Association Images