 Gun Amnesty
People will be able to hand in both real and imitation firearms free from prosecution with the launch of a one-month gun amnesty. The last national firearms amnesty in 1996 saw 23,000 firearms and 700,000 rounds of ammunition surrendered.
The announcement comes ahead of the introduction of tough new gun laws. Legislation will include a five-year minimum sentence for illegal possession of a prohibited firearm, and a ban on carrying imitation and air guns in public without lawful authority, or reasonable excuse.
Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth urged anyone with an illegally held gun,
or any other weapon, to take this chance to get rid of it. Mr Ainsworth said: "We still have one of the lowest levels of gun crime in the Western world, but I am not prepared to tolerate the increase we have recently witnessed."
Targeted police operations and ongoing work will support the new laws with local communities to help divert young people away from gun crime. The Minister added: "A culture is emerging among a very small group of predominantly young men who think carrying a gun will enhance their status. It is a gross misconception, and one that cannot go unchallenged."
Every police force in England, Scotland and Wales will take part in the amnesty and hand-in from March 31 to April 30.
In the summer of 2002 MAMAA wrote to every UK Police force to ask for a national weapons amnesty. We were delighted with the positive responses from everyone and worked closely with Detective Inspector Mark Roberts from Manchester Police Force to put it together. After several meetings with ACPO and the Home Office it was decided that the amnesty would be launched on Mothers Day 2003 and would last for a month.
Many believed that the amnesty was a knee-jerk reaction by the Government in response to the tragic murders of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare's in Birmingham on New Years Eve as they were on their way to a party. However, the Home Office had already set up meetings with MAMAA, Mothers Against Guns and ACPO to plan the amnesty.
Between 31 March and 30 April 2003, the amnesty encouraged people to hand in illegally held guns and ammunition at local police stations without being charged. It also encouraged people to hand in any other unwanted guns. Although there were a lot of negative comments made at the time of the amnesty, we were delighted with the outcome and more importantly the awareness that was raised.
A total of 43,908 guns and 1,039,358 rounds of ammunition were handed in and are no longer at risk of falling in the hands of criminals. This compares to 22,939 guns and 695,197 rounds of ammunition relinquished during the previous amnesty in June 1996 following the horrific murders of 16 children and their teacher at their school in Dunblane.
Since the amnesty MAMAA and Mothers Against Guns, along with other community groups have had regular meetings with the Home Office and UK police forces as part of their Advisory panel on gun crime issues. In January 2005 a panel was also set up to deal with the growing problem of knife related crimes. This follows on from the launch of Operation Blunt headed up by Commander Simon Foy early in 2004. Victim’s families are part of both the panels and have a very real and positive input into the discussions.
Although there is a huge amount of work still to be done, things have improved greatly since MAMAA began 12 years ago and with the partnership of community groups, support groups, the Police and the Home Office working together we believe things are changing for the better.
We would like to thank CHOICE FM for their annual Peace on the Streets Weekend, which continues to highlight the devastating effect that gun crime has on the lives of not just the immediate family of the victim’s but also on whole communities. Families and friends are invited to take part in the programmes over a whole weekend to openly talk about their experiences. Lucy Cope from Mothers Against Guns has made a huge impact on hundreds of people and continues to turn her son Damian’s death into a positive force for good.
In January 2004 MAMAA and Mothers Against Guns received awards for their work in the field of tackling gun crime.
Letters received from DI Raj Kohli and DI Mark Roberts with whom we worked on the amnesty.
I have recently moved from the Specialist Crime Directorate and am
writing to you to give you my new details.
Whilst I was arranging to transfer across to my new position I realised
I had not formally thanked you for your help, advice and support during
the National Gun Amnesty of 2003. As the Metropolitan Police Service
co-ordinator I found it refreshing and re-assuring to see that a group
like MAMAA exists - a group that has no 'hidden agendas' and is victim
and community focussed.
It appears to me to be extremely unfortunate that you have yet to find funding for the work you do. I truly hope this oversight is quickly remedied.
In the meantime I wish you all the best for the future. Whilst I cannot
(as a police officer) give you a reference I will be more than happy to
receive communications from people interested in how closely you worked
with me during the amnesty and describe to them the benefits I feel that
MAMAA has to offer.
Yours sincerely,
Raj Kohli,
Detective Inspector
Borough of Brent
To whom it may concern
I am Detective Chief Inspector Mark Roberts of Greater Manchester Police.
Until May of last year I was secretary to the ACPO Criminal Use of Firearms
Group which lead the Police side in organising the National Firearms
Amnesty, which ended in May of last year having recovered some 44,000
firearms. It was largely through that work that I came to know Dee Warner
and Lynn Costello and MAMAA. I have attended numerous meetings with both
Lynn and Dee and found them to be tremendous to work with. They are
completely dedicated to their cause of assisting the victims of some
horrendous crimes and demonstrate a passion in pursuing their aims. They
are always open and direct in their dealings, putting their case forward in
a robust fashion regardless of the forum, yet in a constructive manner
which lends itself to sound partnership working. I have subsequently had
cause to speak to them on other issues and value their input.
Regards,
Mark Roberts
Back |
