Gwent Police will be joining with police forces across the country to hold a targeted amnesty for anyone in possession of an Olympic .380 BBM revolver, pictured – a starter pistol that can be easily converted to live firing and has been involved in three attempted murders.
The amnesty will take place until 4 June 2010. Following tests, the Olympic .380 BBM has been identified as readily convertible under the provision of the Firearms Act 1982, bringing it within the classification of a prohibited weapon under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.
The amnesty means that anyone who does not hand in their Olympic .380 BBM revolver before 4 June 2010 could be liable to prosecution, for which there is a five year mandatory prison sentence. The period of targeted amnesty will begin today, 16 April and will end on 4 June 2010. It will be for the sole purpose of handing in Olympic .380 BBM revolvers in either their converted or unconverted form.
Chief Superintendent Kevin Price, Gwent Police said: “Although we have had no incidents of seizures of these types of firearms or any incidents where they have been used in the perpertration of a crime in Gwent, they have been found in other parts of the country. The revolver has now been classified as “readily convertible” which makes them a threat and makes them illegal to possess, supply or transfer. We would encourage owners to make use of this amnesty as the firearms can now be disposed of in any police station throughout the country before June 4th and the owner will not face prosecution for possession.”
This targeted amnesty applies solely to possession of the Olympic .380 BBM across all police forces in England and Wales. All police forces have been supplied with information about the Olympic .380 BBM and how to manage their handover in terms of safety to the public.
Those people who hand in the Olympic .380 BBM at any police station will be given a receipt.
Anyone with information about firearms incidents or information about those who possess or have access to illegal firearms should contact their local police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
