NORTH Yorkshire Police are asking members of the public to hand in their illegally held guns and ammunition during a firearms surrender fortnight.

Between today (November 1) and November 16 members of the public will be able to drop off illegally held firearms at police stations across the county, including Skipton.

This includes replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, antique weapons, component parts and ammunition.

Firearms legislation has changed recently and the police are asking people to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted guns and ammunition to help avoid them getting into the wrong hands.

Many firearms may be held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality, or may be overlooked or forgotten in people’s homes. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of the firearm or ammunition safely by taking it to a police station and handing it in.

Under previous legislation, if you were given a custodial prison sentenced of three months or more, you were prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The new law extends this prohibition to people who are given suspended prison sentences of three months or more. It also now applies to antique firearms.

During the period of the amnesty, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and they can remain anonymous. However, the history of each live weapon will be checked for evidence of its use in crimes.

Dave Coutts, head of firearms and explosives licensing at North Yorkshire Police, said: “Gun crime is very rare in North Yorkshire, and it has fallen year-on-year across the UK over the past ten years. However, the less illegally held firearms that are in circulation, the better.

“Surrendering unwanted, unlicensed weapons avoids the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place.”

Weapons can be handed in at the following police stations: York (Fulford Road), Selby, Tadcaster, Harrogate (Beckwith Head Road), Skipton, Ripon, Knaresborough, Northallerton, Thirsk, Bedale, Catterick Garrison, Stokesley, Richmond, Scarborough, Eastfield, Filey, Whitby, Malton and Pickering.

Anyone handing in a weapon during the surrender is advised to check the opening times of their station. You can do this by visiting www.northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk/policestations or call 101 and ask for the station by name.

If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity please call the police on 101 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.