A WEAPONS amnesty has been launched by West Yorkshire Police to remove guns and knives from the county’s streets.

The surrender, which starts today and runs until Saturday, March 4, involves police urging members of the public to hand in any weapons they hold including knives and guns.

The initiative aims to avoid weapons getting into the wrong hands and provide members of the community with a safe place to dispose of them.

As part of this year’s campaign, West Yorkshire Police is also keen to hear from anyone who may have information about the illegal possession of firearms including ammunition and are seeking help to identify so-called ‘safe’ houses where they may be held.

New legislation also means that there is potentially a large number of previously deactivated guns that do not meet new standards.

While these guns may be legally held, they cannot now be legally sold or given away. 

West Yorkshire Police Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams said: “We want to remove weapons so they don’t end up in the wrong hands on the streets of West Yorkshire causing injury to someone or even worse.

"Incidents involving the reported use of weapons are treated very seriously and West Yorkshire Police is committed to reducing these to ensure that people who live, work and visit the county remain safe.

"We want to remove those who involve themselves in the illegal use of weapons from our local communities and it is important that we continue to work with communities and partners to identify, arrest and convict anyone who is involved in crime."

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "I would like to place on record my thanks to Christopher Wright, I can’t begin to imagine what he has been through and to step into the spotlight to support this campaign shows true courage in highlighting the devastation that both gun and knife crime can cause of which we are only too well aware through recent events.

"It’s very important to run weapons surrenders periodically to support changes in the law and to give people an opportunity to hand in illegal or dangerous weapons and ammunition anonymously or otherwise which eliminates the chance of them ever falling in to the wrong hands and preventing serious harm in the future.

"By taking part in this weapons surrender you could literally be saving lives.

"I would urge anyone with illegal/dangerous weapons or ammunition to please come forward and dispose of them safely and with any other relevant information to contact the police in helping to make West Yorkshire safer."

During the campaign those surrendering firearms, ammunition, knives and other offensive weapons will not face prosecution for simply possessing these weapons and they may wish to remain anonymous.

The campaign has proved successful in recent years.

Last year a huge haul was handed in including 150 bladed and offensive weapons and 80 guns.

Father-of-three Christopher Wright knows only too well the devastating impact of gun crime.

He was left fighting for his life after being gunned down on the doorstep of his Leeds home in April 2010. He spent weeks in intensive care at hospital and lost his business and almost his family home

He said: "Our lives were devastated by what happened and I would not want that to happen to any other family.

"I would support any effort to get guns off the streets – I feel lucky but other people have had their lives devastated by gun crime.

"I wouldn’t want what happened to us to happen to another family. People shouldn’t carry guns and I would urge them to support the weapons surrender."

Police stations taking part:

Leeds District HQ

Elland Road Police Station

Elland Road

Leeds

LS11 8BU

8am to 10pm, seven days a week

Stainbeck Police Station

Stainbeck Lane

Leeds

LS7 3QU

8am to 10pm, seven days a week

Bradford Police Station

Trafalgar House

Nelson Street

Bradford

BD5 0DX

8am to midnight, seven days a week

Keighley Police Station

Airedale House

Royd Ings Avenue

Keighley

BD21 4BZ

8am to 8pm, seven days a week

Halifax Police Station

Richmond Close

Halifax

HX1 5TW

7am to 11pm, seven days a week

Huddersfield Police Station

Castlegate

Huddersfield

HD1 2NJ

8am to 10pm, seven days a week

Dewsbury Police Station

Aldams Road

Dewsbury

WF12 8AR

8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sundays

Wakefield District Headquarters

Havertop Lane

Normanton

WF6 1FD

8am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday.

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