A GUN and weapons amnesty is underway in Barnsley to encourage people to surrender firearms and knives so they don’t fall into the wrong hands and end up being used in crimes.
The Churchfield station in Barnsley is one of many across the region taking part in the two-week amnesty, which started on Monday.
Weapons can include air weapons, BB guns, handguns, antique firearms, imitation firearms, ammunition, knives, samurai swords, machetes, switchblades and daggers.
Det Supt Una Jennings, the armed criminality lead for South Yorkshire Police, said:
“While we know individuals already involved in criminality will be unlikely to hand in any weapons, there will be people who will have been passed down an antique firearm by a family member, or have items such as samurai swords that may have previously been used for decoration in the home, and they are now no longer wanted.
“The surrender provides the perfect opportunity to safely dispose of these weapons and to prevent them from ending up on the streets and falling into criminals hands, which only brings destruction and devastation to our communities.”
The amnesty will end at 11.59pm on November 26 and during the 14-day surrender, anyone who gives up a weapon or firearm will not face prosecution for possession of the weapon at the point of handing it in to a police station.
However, all the weapons surrendered will be forensically examined and should there be any indication they have previously been used in any form of criminality, an investigation will begin with potential prosecutions.
DS Jennings said: “Possession of a firearm alone will result in a minimum five-year prison sentence, even if you’re just ‘holding it’ for a family member or friend, it’s you that will face prosecution and end up behind bars.
“Similarly, possession of a knife carries up to a four-year sentence.”
For a list of police stations where weapons can be handed in and opening times, please visit www.southyorks.police.uk/surrender
