ESSEX POLICE: press release

News & Press Releases


Handgun owners surrender their weapons
	MARCH 19th, 1998 MA98_05
	Owners of small calibre handguns have been forced to hand over their weapons as Phase Two of a government ban. Last year, legal owners of guns over a .22 calibre were forced to surrender them, which led to 3,777 weapons being taken off the streets of Essex. Phase Two, during February this year extended the ban to small calibre weapons, under .22. The 333 existing firearms certificate holders handed in a total of 485 handguns. A further 113 weapons were voluntarily handed in by registered dealers and 60 were surrendered by gun clubs. Neither of these were subject to the ban. This brings the total of guns collected by Essex Police in Phase Two to 658. Head of the Firearms Licensing Department, Mick Fidgeon, is very pleased with the response by "these law-abiding citizens" who all surrendered their guns prior to the deadline. All owners will now be compensated by the Home Office for the firearms and any ammunition and ancillary equipment they handed in.	View Press Release Listing