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What To do If You Find A Firearm - A Guide |
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After an incident in Ruislip where a member of public carried potential firearms through public places in order to hand them in, I have created the following guide: IMPORTANT: Safety FirstIf you find a firearm, do not assume it is safe, unloaded, deactivated, or imitation. Treat every firearm as if it is real and loaded. If there is any immediate riskCall 999 immediately if: The firearm is in a public place. Someone may be injured. The weapon appears to have been recently used. There is any threat to life or public safety. If there is no immediate dangerCall 101 and ask for police advice and attendance. What You Should Do1. Leave the firearm where it is if possibleDo not handle, unload, dismantle, or examine it. Avoid touching it unnecessarily, as it may contain forensic evidence. Keep other people away from the area. 2. Contact the policeProvide: The exact location of the firearm. A description of what you have found. Whether anyone has touched or moved it. Any concerns about public safety. 3. Follow police instructionsThe police may: Send officers to recover the firearm. Arrange a safe surrender process. Give specific instructions based on the circumstances. What You Should NOT DoDo not: Carry the firearm through public places. Place it in your bag, vehicle, or pocket unless specifically instructed by police. Attempt to test whether it works. Attempt to unload it. Display it to others or take photographs for social media. If the Firearm Has Already Been Taken HomeIf you have already recovered the firearm and it is in a secure location: Do not handle it any further. Keep it somewhere secure and away from children or other people. Call 101 immediately. Explain that you have found a suspected firearm and wish to surrender it. Follow the instructions provided by the police. During Firearms Surrenders or AmnestiesPolice forces occasionally run firearms surrender or amnesty campaigns. During these events, specific arrangements are usually put in place for safely surrendering weapons. However, you should always contact the police first before transporting a firearm. Key MessageIf you find a potential firearm, the safest course of action is to leave it where it is, keep people away, and contact the police immediately via 999 (emergency) or 101 (non-emergency). Do not attempt to transport or dispose of it yourself. | ||
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