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25-03-2008, 11:59 PM
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Hand over your weapons, say Kent Police
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=39394
Kent Police is launching a weapons ‘surrender’ as part of its Safer Spring campaign.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/images/news/39394_0_l.jpg
The Force is giving anyone in possession of any real or imitation weapon, from bladed instruments to firearms, the opportunity to hand them over to the police or local neighbourhood officers.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/images/news/39394_1_l.jpg
The scheme will run from today until April 20, and follows a knife amnesty by the force in 2006, where just under 4,000 bladed instruments were handed in to local police stations.
Superintendent Peter Wedlake of the Force's Partnership and Crime Reduction department said: "It is important to note that crime involving weapons in Kent is very low. However, we want to take as many weapons as possible off the streets of Kent. Any weapon handed to police is one that cannot be used in crime.”
He added: “This is also an opportunity for anyone who has a weapon they think may be illegal or do not want to keep in their possession any longer to hand it to police, thereby ensuring its safe disposal.”
Last year, Kent police recorded 244 firearms offences – down by nearly 100 from 2006. Around 65 per cent of the offences involved an air weapon, and 10 per cent involved a pistol. Approximately 48 per cent resulted in violence.
Carrying a knife carries a prison sentence of six months and/or a £5,000 fine, while carrying an imitation firearm can result in a prison sentence of 12 months this applies to BB guns, blank firing pistols, cap guns, collectibles, 'airsoft' guns, airguns and other items that resemble a gun.
Superintendent Wedlake continued: “Imitation guns can look very realistic and can create fear and distress in the community.
“It is illegal to carry any weapon in public, whether it is a realistic imitation or not, and armed police could be called to respond.”
The amnesty comes as a senior UK police chief constable accused many judges of being too lenient on gun crime by failing to impose the "mandatory" five-year sentence for possession of a firearm.
The average sentence handed down the offence in 2005 was three years and nine months.
Merseyside Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe, whose force is investigating the fatal shooting of Rhys Jones last summer, said: “This is a plea for more consistency.
“The value of a gun in cash terms…can be as low as £500, possibly £1,000.
“If we can get into the mind that not only is it a low sum of money, but you're going to prison for 10 years or 15 years, they will listen.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the mandatory five-year term was a starting point, and that judges were entitled to take both aggravating and mitigating factors into consideration when determining the final sentence.
Anyone wanting details on how to surrender weapons should contact their local police station, or to report the misuse of weapons or illegal weapons can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Hand over your weapons, say Kent Police
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=39394
Kent Police is launching a weapons ‘surrender’ as part of its Safer Spring campaign.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/images/news/39394_0_l.jpg
The Force is giving anyone in possession of any real or imitation weapon, from bladed instruments to firearms, the opportunity to hand them over to the police or local neighbourhood officers.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/images/news/39394_1_l.jpg
The scheme will run from today until April 20, and follows a knife amnesty by the force in 2006, where just under 4,000 bladed instruments were handed in to local police stations.
Superintendent Peter Wedlake of the Force's Partnership and Crime Reduction department said: "It is important to note that crime involving weapons in Kent is very low. However, we want to take as many weapons as possible off the streets of Kent. Any weapon handed to police is one that cannot be used in crime.”
He added: “This is also an opportunity for anyone who has a weapon they think may be illegal or do not want to keep in their possession any longer to hand it to police, thereby ensuring its safe disposal.”
Last year, Kent police recorded 244 firearms offences – down by nearly 100 from 2006. Around 65 per cent of the offences involved an air weapon, and 10 per cent involved a pistol. Approximately 48 per cent resulted in violence.
Carrying a knife carries a prison sentence of six months and/or a £5,000 fine, while carrying an imitation firearm can result in a prison sentence of 12 months this applies to BB guns, blank firing pistols, cap guns, collectibles, 'airsoft' guns, airguns and other items that resemble a gun.
Superintendent Wedlake continued: “Imitation guns can look very realistic and can create fear and distress in the community.
“It is illegal to carry any weapon in public, whether it is a realistic imitation or not, and armed police could be called to respond.”
The amnesty comes as a senior UK police chief constable accused many judges of being too lenient on gun crime by failing to impose the "mandatory" five-year sentence for possession of a firearm.
The average sentence handed down the offence in 2005 was three years and nine months.
Merseyside Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe, whose force is investigating the fatal shooting of Rhys Jones last summer, said: “This is a plea for more consistency.
“The value of a gun in cash terms…can be as low as £500, possibly £1,000.
“If we can get into the mind that not only is it a low sum of money, but you're going to prison for 10 years or 15 years, they will listen.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the mandatory five-year term was a starting point, and that judges were entitled to take both aggravating and mitigating factors into consideration when determining the final sentence.
Anyone wanting details on how to surrender weapons should contact their local police station, or to report the misuse of weapons or illegal weapons can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.