Police across the North West received over 800 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition during the ‘Give Up The Gun’ firearms surrender. 
The haul includes a number of live and deactivated weapons including rifles, shotguns, handguns and air weapons as well as some imitation and antique firearms. The most unusual items include an replica AK-47, a number of wartime relics and a Smith & Wesson pistol. 

The surrender ran from 4 April – 18 April 2016, where six police forces asked members of the public to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition, to help prevent them getting into the wrong hands. 

The surrender gave the public the chance to dispose of firearms or ammunition quickly and anonymously by simply taking it to a local police station and handing it in. During that period, those surrendering firearms did not face prosecution for the illegal possession. A total of 811 weapons were surrendered across all counties. 
In Greater Manchester, 221 weapons were handed over, with thousands of rounds of ammunition yet to be counted. 

GMP Assistant Chief Constable John O’Hare said: 

“The 2016 firearm surrender was a remarkable success and I am delighted that we have managed to remove over 220 weapons from the streets of Greater Manchester. 

The surrender may be over, but our commitment to tackle gun crime is not. There will be continued efforts from GMP, our colleagues across the North West and our partners as we work together to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity. 

Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: 

“Guns bring devastation, causing serious injury, fatalities and misery to families and communities so every weapon and piece of ammunition taken off the street is to be welcomed. These weapons are now in safe hands and out of the hands of criminals. 

“I want to thank those people of Greater Manchester who have come forward to surrender weapons and ammunition and play a vital role in making our communities safer.

Since April 2014 a total of 88 firearms discharges have been recorded across Greater Manchester. 

During the fiscal year of 2015/16 a total of 55 firearms discharges took place, an increase of 22 discharges when compared to the previous year of 2014/15 (when 33 offences occurred). 

Since records were first collated (2006/07) the highest number of fatal discharges within Greater Manchester occurred in the 2007/08 and 2012/13 periods, where six offences were recorded respectively. 

 Two fatalities were recorded during the 2014/15 period and there were a further two fatalities during 2015/16 year. The most recent fatality occurred in July 2015. 
The number of injuries as the result of firearms discharges within Greater Manchester has increased during 2015/16, whereby 17 injuries were recorded. 

 This is an increase of 11 injuries when compared to the previous year. The lowest number of injuries was recorded in the 2012/13 period

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