Wrexham residents urged to hand in unwanted firearms as part of two week amnesty

Wrexham residents are being urged to hand in unwanted guns as part of two-week campaign to stop firearms falling into the wrong hands. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Known as Operation Aztec, police forces are appealing for people to hand in firearms and ammunition during the amnesty which starts today, 12 May 2022. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many firearms are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. Some are held legally and are no longer required. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However others are acquired and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate their local communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police say the two week surrender gives people the chance to dispose of firearms or ammunition by simply taking them to a local police station and handing them over. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Surrendering unwanted, unlicensed, and illegal weapons avoids the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the 14 day period, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession at the point of surrender and can remain anonymous. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Legislative changes also mean it is no longer legal in some cases to own specific firearms without a license, if at all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that they meet the relevant ownership requirements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Detective Superintendent Mark Pierce, Head of the Force Major Incident Team and Serious & Organised Crime Unit said “In line with our vision to make North Wales the safest place in UK, we are keen to provide the general public with a quick and easy way to surrender firearms in their possession – for whatever the reason, such inheritance, or no longer required. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“You can hand in firearms at identified police stations, or should you require assistance at your address, please call 101 to arrange a necessary appointment” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the surrender members of the public are encouraged to take firearms into police stations and hand them over the front counter. The weapons will then be forensically examined, and information sent for forensic examination where appropriate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In Wrexham firearms and ammunition can be surrendered at the Wrexham Town Police Station on Rhosddu Road between 8:30am and 7pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 6pm on Sundays ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​