Resident,

Thirteen blank firearms have been handed in as part of our amnesty in Derbyshire so far.

Across England and Wales, more than 1,000 of these Turkish manufactured guns, which will soon be outlawed due to tests showing them as readily convertible, have been handed in.

The top-venting blank firing (TVBF) guns can be handed in at police station enquiry desks until 28 February, after this anyone in possession of a TVBF could be subject to prosecution and up to ten years imprisonment.

In Derbyshire, these can be handed in at our enquiry desks at Peartree, St Mary's Wharf, Chesterfield and Buxton police stations.

The top-venting blank firing (TVBF) guns have become popular with organised criminals in recent years due to the ease at which they are readily convertible into lethal firearms.

Tests by the National Crime Agency and policing, funded by the Home Office, show models produced by four Turkish manufacturers are readily convertible and therefore illegal. TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18s unless they are readily convertible.

Police forces across England and Wales have been holding a four-week Firearms Amnesty for Turkish manufactured TVBFs, namely models with the brand names ‘Retay’, ‘Ekol’, ‘Ceonic’ and ‘Blow’, although anyone with a TVBF who is unsure of whether the law change applies to them has been given the simple advice – if in doubt, hand it in.

In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges. When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon. TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour however, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm.

For more information, please visit: Amnesty for top-venting blank firers | Derbyshire Constabulary