245 guns handed in to police during firearms surrender

More than 100 working firearms including rifles, shotguns, revolvers and handguns were surrendered during the campaign which took place last month.

In addition, silencers, starting pistols, air weapons and two deactivated machine guns were taken into police stations across the West Midlands force area.

Since the end of the campaign some of the weapons have been tested by specialist ballistics officers. They will all now be destroyed.

Det Insp Rod Rose, from force CID, said: “We’re really pleased with the outcome of this surrender where 245 weapons have been taken off the streets which is a fantastic result.

“A number of deactivated weapons were also given in, these could have been easily converted and should they have fallen into the wrong hands, the consequences could have been devastating.

“Officers have also made real headway in the fight against gun crime by positively engaging with a number of people thought to be involved in gun crime."

The region's Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: “To hear that nearly 250 weapons, including Tommy Guns and AK-47s, will be destroyed is fantastic news.

“Whilst those guns are on the streets of the West Midlands there is always the potential they could fall into the wrong hands. Every gun handed in is potentially a life saved.

“For everybody who decided to hand in their weapon may I say a big thank you. You have done the right thing."