Haul of blank firing guns handed into police

A nationwide amnesty for 'top venting blank firers' took place between 3 February and 28 February

More than 40 guns which fire blanks and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been handed into Nottinghamshire Police during a four week national amnesty.

Forces across the country have taken part in the amnesty with the aim of removing 'top venting blank firers' (TVBFs) from circulation.

It followed tests from the National Crime Agency which found four Turkish-manufactured TVBFs - 'Retay', 'Ekol', 'Ceonic' and 'Blow' - could be converted into viable handguns.

TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK unless they can be converted into a viable firearm, which means the four brands of Turkish TVBF were declared illegal from 28 February.

A total of 42 blank firing firearms were handed into Nottinghamshire Police during the amnesty

The national amnesty ran from 4 February to 28 February and resulted in 42 blank firers and more than 500 rounds of blank and live ammunition being turned in at police stations across Nottinghamshire.

Det Supt Christopher Sullivan, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We are pleased by the results of this amnesty which have allowed us to take more than 40 potential weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition off the streets and out of harm's way."