Latest news with #Retay
BBC News
07-03-2025
- BBC News
Cache of illegal blank firing guns handed in to police amnesty
More than 40 guns which fire blanks were handed into Surrey Police and Sussex Police following a four-week firearms plea for Turkish-manufactured top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) ran the entire month of weapons are legal for over-18s to buy in the UK without a license however testing has shown some, prohibited brands are possible to convert into viable handguns. Surrey Police and Sussex Police Firearms and Explosive Licensing Unit said 42 illegal TVBFs were handed in to stations during the amnesty. Possession of prohibited brands - Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow - can carry sentences of up to 10 years. Legal TBVFs have a fully blocked barrel which can only discharge blanks and they are also recognisable as they are partially painted a bright colour. Illegal versions have been adapted to fire live rounds and are sometimes painted black to resemble a real handgun. According to police, converted blank firers have been used in at least four homicides in the UK in the last two years. Ch Insp Kara Tombling said: "We want to reassure the public that gun crime in Surrey and Sussex remains very rare, and the number of firearms handed in reflect that. "The seizure of these illegal top-venting blank firers will go a significant way to help protect the public."The amnesty is now over, but other unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition may be surrendered to police at any time following normal firearms surrender processes."
BBC News
06-03-2025
- BBC News
South Yorkshire amnesty sees 45 blank-firing guns handed in
Forty-five blank-firing guns have been handed over to South Yorkshire Police during a month-long February, police forces across the UK took part in a campaign aimed at the owners of specific models of top-venting blank firers (TVBFs).Tests by the National Crime Agency have shown that four types of TVBFs are readily convertible and therefore illegal. The four Turkish models are Retay, Ekol, Ceonic ISSC and Insp Claire Moss of the Armed Crime Team said these weapons made up a "significant proportion of discharges and recoveries in our patch" over the last two years. The February amnesty gave owners the opportunity to hand in guns at police stations across all four districts in South Yorkshire.A total of 34 Turkish TVBFs and 11 other brands were handed in. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
05-03-2025
- BBC News
Haul of blank firing guns handed into Nottinghamshire police
More than 40 guns which fire blanks and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been handed into Nottinghamshire Police during a four week national amnesty. Forces across the country have taken part in the amnesty with the aim of removing 'top venting blank firers' (TVBFs) from circulation. It followed tests from the National Crime Agency which found four Turkish-manufactured TVBFs - 'Retay', 'Ekol', 'Ceonic' and 'Blow' - could be converted into viable handguns. TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK unless they can be converted into a viable firearm, which means the four brands of Turkish TVBF were declared illegal from 28 February. The national amnesty ran from 4 February to 28 February and resulted in 42 blank firers and more than 500 rounds of blank and live ammunition being turned in at police stations across Nottinghamshire. Det Supt Christopher Sullivan, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We are pleased by the results of this amnesty which have allowed us to take more than 40 potential weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition off the streets and out of harm's way."
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
Blank-firing guns handed in during police amnesty
A number of blank-firing guns have been handed in to Derbyshire Police during an amnesty this month. The force said it had accepted 13 so-called top-venting blank firing (TVBF) weapons at police stations since 3 February as part of a national initiative. Officers said the blank-firing guns will cease to be legal to own after 28 February. TVBF firearms are popular with organised criminals because they can be readily converted into lethal guns, the force said. The amnesty applies to the weapons made by Turkish manufacturers with the brand names Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow. However, Derbyshire Police said it urged anyone who is unsure whether the changing law applies to them to hand in their gun. The force said TVBF weapons could be handed in at Pear Tree and St Mary's Wharf police stations and Derby and at Chesterfield and Buxton police stations. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Derbyshire Police
BBC News
22-02-2025
- BBC News
Blank-firing guns handed in during a Derbyshire police amnesty
A number of blank-firing guns have been handed in to Derbyshire Police during an amnesty this force said it had accepted 13 so-called top-venting blank firing (TVBF) weapons at police stations since 3 February as part of a national said the blank-firing guns will cease to be legal to own after 28 firearms are popular with organised criminals because they can be readily converted into lethal guns, the force said. The amnesty applies to the weapons made by Turkish manufacturers with the brand names Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Derbyshire Police said it urged anyone who is unsure whether the changing law applies to them to hand in their force said TVBF weapons could be handed in at Pear Tree and St Mary's Wharf police stations and Derby and at Chesterfield and Buxton police stations.
