Firearms amnesty for top-venting blank firers to take place this February in Liverpool

A firearms amnesty specifically targeting Turkish-manufactured top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) will take place throughout February 2025.

The firearms amnesty, will be held from 3 – 28 February, will provide an opportunity for individuals to safely hand in these now-illegal weapons to prevent prosecution and help ensure public safety.

The firearms are the Turkish brands: Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow. 

Anyone in possession of a TVBF after the Amnesty could be subject to prosecution and up to 10 years imprisonment. 

TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18s unless they are readily convertible. 

Merseyside Police is taking part in the Amnesty and the public will be able to hand in any TVBFs before 28 February 2025 to help them avoid prosecution and prevent these pistols getting into the wrong hands.

More information about the surrender locations will be published next week. 

Ahead of the Amnesty period starting, Merseyside Police is asking the public to check for any TVBFs they may have at home or in their possession and get them ready for disposal. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said: “Many top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) 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 TVBFs safely. 

“I would encourage anyone who thinks they may have one of these firearms to check their homes and get them ready for disposal between 3 to 28 February 2025.”

When will the firearms amnesty take place?

The Amnesty will start from Monday 3 February to Friday 28 February 2025, for a four-week period. 

Can I hand in my firearm now?

The Amnesty period for top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) starts on Monday 3 February – so please wait until the official start date to hand them in. Ahead of the Amnesty starting, the public are encouraged to check for any TVBFs they may have at home or in their possession and get them ready for disposal. 

Why is the Firearms Amnesty taking place now?

Tests by the National Crime Agency and policing, funded by the Home Office, show models produced by four Turkish manufacturers are readily convertible and therefore illegal.

In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges. When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon. TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour however, criminals may paint them black, so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm. 

How will the Firearms Amnesty help?

Every top-venting blank firer (TVBF) given up is one less that criminals can potentially convert and use.

Has Firearms Legislation changed? 

Firearms legislation has not changed; the weapons are illegal to own under the Firearms Act 1968 as they can be readily converted using common household tools and without specialist skill on the part of the person carrying out the conversion. Recent testing completed by the NCA has demonstrated this.

What about the rights of legal firearms holders during the amnesty?

It does not affect the firearms held by licenced firearms holders. It is aimed at preventing lethal firearms falling into the wrong hands.

If you know any information about illegal firearms activity, call the Police on 101, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or visit the website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously. Always call 999 in an emergency. 

Every call to Crimestoppers is anonymous and potentially vital to preventing or solving serious crimes; removing an illegally held firearm may just save someone’s life.

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