National firearms amnesty
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Hand in your blank firing guns safely this February.
Gwent Police is part of a UK-wide amnesty this month (February) on Turkish manufactured top-venting blank firers (TVBF), which are now illegal to own.
Anyone found in possession of a TVBF from Saturday 1 March could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
What is a Turkish Top Venting Blank Firer (TVBF)?
TVBFs are blank firing guns that have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge blank cartridges.
They are usually sold with at least 50 per cent of their surface painted a bright colour, although many people intending to use the gun for criminal activities paint them black to imitate a real firearm.
Until now, these weapons have been legal to own, however, evidence shows they are increasingly linked to criminal activities, including intimidation and attempting to look like a genuine handgun.
The particular models (below) included in the amnesty can be easily modified, making them illegal under the Firearms Act 1968.
Why is this important?
Since 2021, UK law enforcement have recovered more than 800 of these guns in criminal circumstances and they have been used in at least four homicides in the last two years.
TVBFs have been flagged as a significant threat to public safety, prompting stricter measures.
What do I need to know about the amnesty?
It is running from Monday 3 February to Friday 28 February.
The amnesty is a chance to dispose of and discard any TVBF safely by bringing them to their local police station.
You will not be prosecuted for owning one and you may remain anonymous.
The models we are asking for people to hand over are Top-Venting Blank firers manufactured by any of the following:
- BLOW
- CEONIC
- EKOL
- RETAY
How and where can I hand my TVBF in?
You may bring your TVBF into one of our following five stations:
- Newport Central police station (open 8am - 6pm, everyday)
- Monmouth police station (open 9am - 1pm and 2 pm - 5 pm, Monday to Friday)
- Blackwood police station (open 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm, Monday to Friday)
- Cwmbran police station (open 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm, Monday to Friday)
- Ebbw Vale police station (open 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm, Monday to Friday).
To ensure safety when transporting your TVBF, please:
- Place it in a bag or box to carry it out of public sight
- Make a specific journey solely for this purpose to avoid being in public with the item longer than necessary
- Once you arrive, please make clear you are here to hand in a firearm to the enquiry officer before presenting it to them.
If you’re unable to attend a station, you can call 101 quoting log 207 – 16/1/2025 for an officer to collect the firearm from your home.
Should you have any questions, please email: [email protected]