A total of 350 firearms including two wartime machine guns have been handed in to police in London as a result of a two-week gun amnesty which ended on Monday, Scotland Yard confirmed today.
Now police have extended the offer to anyone who wants to hand in illegal or unwanted firearms “as soon as possible” even past the deadline.
Two deactivated Second World War machine guns, 17 rifles including an assault rifle, three shotguns and three airguns were among the haul handed in during the surrender.
“Every gun has the potential to become a lethal weapon if it falls into the hands of criminals, even it has been deactivated,” Det Supt Mike Balcombe from the Met’s Trident and Area Command said.
“This has been one of the most successful gun surrenders we’ve ever had in London, which has resulted in hundreds of firearms being taken off the streets.”
Almost 40,000 rounds of ammunition were also handed in, as well as the guns.
The operation covered the Square Mile of the City, including Aldgate and Bishopsgate, as well as east London.
City Police Commander Jane Gyford said: “It’s encouraging that the public want to work with us to reduce gun crime and help prevent dangerous weapons falling into the wrong hands.”
Both the Met and City of London police forces took part in the national ‘gun surrender’ campaign organised by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service, but have urged anyone with illegal firearms to still hand them in.
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