Campaign sees more than 300 firearms surrendered to Police Scotland

More than 300 firearms and 80 lots of ammunition have been surrendered to police across Scotland as part of a UK-wide firearms surrender campaign to remove unlicensed weapons from our communities and prevent them being used for criminality.

319 weapons including shotguns, BB guns, air weapons and imitation firearms were handed into police stations between Thursday, 12 May and Sunday, 29 May, 2022.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “It’s really important that we continue to build on public safety across Scotland by providing opportunities for the safe surrender of weapons like this and by reminding the public to check their licences.”

“Members of the public are reminded that it is against the law to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm, regardless of how you acquire it and are reminded that firearms can be surrendered to the Police at any time”

“If anyone has any doubt, we have specially trained officers across the country who can make unlicensed weapons safe and remove them.”

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown said: “We are grateful to Police Scotland for this important campaign to encourage those in possession of unneeded or unlicensed firearms or air weapons to safely hand them over.

“Firearm offences remain at historically low levels in Scotland, but by removing more than 300 weapons as well as ammunition this initiative will help keep our communities safe and prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.”

Anyone looking for more advice on firearms licensing can visit the Police Scotland website here

Police: Firearms Surrender appeal

Firearms and ammunition can be surrendered at police stations across Scotland as part of a UK-wide firearms surrender campaign.

Running from Thursday 12 May until Sunday 29 May, people in possession of firearms and ammunition, for which they do not hold a valid certificate, will be able to surrender these to police.

In addition to being able to hand in firearms and ammunition, the public will be able to hand over replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, component parts and other ballistic items.

The public can hand firearms and weapons to any police station, however are asked where possible to attend at designated locations across Scotland.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “The purpose of the firearms surrender campaign is to remove firearms from criminal availability and therefore reduce the risk of harm to the public and our communities.

“People will be able to surrender unlicensed weapons and ammunition to a number of dedicated police stations throughout Scotland and I would encourage people to do so.”

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown said: “I would encourage anyone in possession of an unneeded or unlicensed firearm or air weapon to safely hand it over to police at one of their designated police stations.

“Firearm offences remain at historically low levels in Scotland, but by removing unwanted weapons this important campaign by Police Scotland will help keep our communities safe and prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.”

Dedicated stations for the surrender are:

EAST

Edinburgh Division

St Leonards

Fife Division

Levenmouth

Kirkcaldy

Dunfermline

Forth Valley Division

Stirling Randolphfield

Falkirk

Lothians and Scottish Borders

Dalkeith

Galashiels

Haddington

Livingstone

NORTH

Highland and Islands Division

Burnett Road

Dingwall

Fort William

Kirkwall

Lerwick

Nairn

Portree

Stornoway

Wick

North East Division

Banchory

Elgin

Ellon

Inverurie

Kittybrewster

Mintlaw

Stonehaven

Tayside Division

Dundee

Forfar

Perth

WEST

Argyll and West Dumbartonshire Division

Campbeltown

Clydebank

Dumbarton

Dunoon

Islay

Lochilphead

Oban

Rothesay

Ayrshire Division

Ayr

Irvine

Kilmarnock

Lamlash

Dumfries and Galloway Division

Annan

Castle Douglas

Dumfries HQ

Lockerbie

Loreburn, Dumfries

Newton Stewart

Stranraer

Sanquhar

Greater Glasgow Division

Aitkenhead Road

Govan

Kirkintilloch

London Road

Lanarkshire Division

Hamilton

Motherwell

Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division

Greenock

Paisley