Top-venting blank firing gun amnesty

[Conor O'Gorman]

The amnesty for top-venting blank firing guns, which is being held due to the increased use of converted guns of this type in crime, runs from 3-28 February.

Last year the National Crime Agency (NCA) carried out a number of tests on Turkish top-venting blank firing Guns (TVBFs), following the increased use of converted guns in crime. 

Four types of TVBF were found to be readily convertible within the terms of the Firearms Act 1982; their possession is therefore unlawful. The types identified as readily convertible are: Ekol, Retay, Ceonic ISSC and Blow.

If you possess one of these types of TVBF, you should surrender it under the upcoming amnesty due to be held from 3-28 February. Details of police stations set up to receive these guns should be held by your local constabulary.

Unfortunately, many blank firing guns are TVBFs, but are not readily convertible within the terms of the above Act.

Should you be unsure as to the type of TVBF you possess and you are a member of BASC, our firearms team may be able to help. The more detail you can provide, including photographs, the easier it will be to identify the manufacturer and type. Contact the team at firearms@basc.org.uk 

https://basc.org.uk/top-venting-blank-firing-gun-amnesty/

 

[Scully]

Is there a compensation scheme for formerly legally acquired and held personal property? 

[Conor O'Gorman]

17 minutes ago, Scully said:

Is there a compensation scheme for formerly legally acquired and held personal property? 

I have not seen anything on that, but have asked colleagues. What types do you own?

[Conor O'Gorman]

 

On 29/01/2025 at 17:42, Scully said:

Is there a compensation scheme for formerly legally acquired and held personal property? 

On 29/01/2025 at 18:01, Conor O'Gorman said:

I have not seen anything on that, but have asked colleagues. What types do you own?

Compensation:

No compensation will be paid by the Government for firearms that are handed over during or before the amnesty, on the basis that they have been found to be illegal and contrary to current legislation. 

https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/home-office-amnesty-for-illegal-blank-firing-pistols-149494/

Latest update from National Police Chiefs' Council:

Tests by the National Crime Agency and policing, funded by the Home Office, show models produced by four Turkish manufacturers are readily convertible and therefore illegal. TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18s unless they are readily convertible.

In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges. When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon. TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour however, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm.

Since 2021, UK law enforcement has recovered more than 800 of the guns in criminal circumstances and converted blank firers have been used in at least four homicides in the UK in the last two years. The specific Turkish firearms soon be made illegal are models with the brand names ‘Retay’, ‘Ekol’, ‘Ceonic ISSC’ and ‘Blow’, although anyone with a TVBF who is unsure of whether the law change applies to them has been given the simple advice – if in doubt, hand it in.

Firearms legislation has not changed; the weapons are illegal to own under the Firearms Act 1968 as they can be readily converted using common household tools and without specialist skill on the part of the person carrying out the conversion. Recent testing completed by the NCA has demonstrated this. The police are asking people to hand in any TVBFs before 28 February 2025 to help them avoid prosecution and prevent these pistols getting into the wrong hands.

Many TVBFs may be held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or may be overlooked or forgotten in people’s homes. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of the TVBFs safely by taking it to a local police station and handing it in.

Full update here:

https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/amnesty-to-be-held-for-blank-firing-guns-popular-with-organised-criminals

 

[Weihrauch17]

14 minutes ago, Conor O'Gorman said:

 

Compensation:

No compensation will be paid by the Government for firearms that are handed over during or before the amnesty, on the basis that they have been found to be illegal and contrary to current legislation. 

https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/home-office-amnesty-for-illegal-blank-firing-pistols-149494/

Latest update from National Police Chiefs' Council:

Tests by the National Crime Agency and policing, funded by the Home Office, show models produced by four Turkish manufacturers are readily convertible and therefore illegal. TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18s unless they are readily convertible.

In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges. When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon. TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour however, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm.

Since 2021, UK law enforcement has recovered more than 800 of the guns in criminal circumstances and converted blank firers have been used in at least four homicides in the UK in the last two years. The specific Turkish firearms soon be made illegal are models with the brand names ‘Retay’, ‘Ekol’, ‘Ceonic ISSC’ and ‘Blow’, although anyone with a TVBF who is unsure of whether the law change applies to them has been given the simple advice – if in doubt, hand it in.

Firearms legislation has not changed; the weapons are illegal to own under the Firearms Act 1968 as they can be readily converted using common household tools and without specialist skill on the part of the person carrying out the conversion. Recent testing completed by the NCA has demonstrated this. The police are asking people to hand in any TVBFs before 28 February 2025 to help them avoid prosecution and prevent these pistols getting into the wrong hands.

Many TVBFs may be held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or may be overlooked or forgotten in people’s homes. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of the TVBFs safely by taking it to a local police station and handing it in.

Full update here:

https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/amnesty-to-be-held-for-blank-firing-guns-popular-with-organised-criminals

 

I don't have one but surely they have been deemed illegal retrospectively after previously being legal so compensation should be paid?

[Scully]

19 minutes ago, Conor O'Gorman said:

 

Compensation:

No compensation will be paid by the Government for firearms that are handed over during or before the amnesty, on the basis that they have been found to be illegal and contrary to current legislation. 

https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/home-office-amnesty-for-illegal-blank-firing-pistols-149494/

Latest update from National Police Chiefs' Council:

Tests by the National Crime Agency and policing, funded by the Home Office, show models produced by four Turkish manufacturers are readily convertible and therefore illegal. TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18s unless they are readily convertible.

In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges. When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon. TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour however, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm.

Since 2021, UK law enforcement has recovered more than 800 of the guns in criminal circumstances and converted blank firers have been used in at least four homicides in the UK in the last two years. The specific Turkish firearms soon be made illegal are models with the brand names ‘Retay’, ‘Ekol’, ‘Ceonic ISSC’ and ‘Blow’, although anyone with a TVBF who is unsure of whether the law change applies to them has been given the simple advice – if in doubt, hand it in.

Firearms legislation has not changed; the weapons are illegal to own under the Firearms Act 1968 as they can be readily converted using common household tools and without specialist skill on the part of the person carrying out the conversion. Recent testing completed by the NCA has demonstrated this. The police are asking people to hand in any TVBFs before 28 February 2025 to help them avoid prosecution and prevent these pistols getting into the wrong hands.

Many TVBFs may be held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or may be overlooked or forgotten in people’s homes. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of the TVBFs safely by taking it to a local police station and handing it in.

Full update here:

https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/amnesty-to-be-held-for-blank-firing-guns-popular-with-organised-criminals

 

Interesting. Thank you. 
Perhaps in that case it would have been a better idea for our policy makers to have deemed them illegal prior to them being offered for sale. 
I can only assume therefore those legitimate vendors who sold or imported for sale these handguns, are being prosecuted for selling them. 
 

10 minutes ago, Weihrauch17 said:

I don't have one but surely they have been deemed illegal retrospectively after previously being legal so compensation should be paid?

You would think so wouldn’t you. 

[Conor O'Gorman]

36 minutes ago, Weihrauch17 said:

I don't have one but surely they have been deemed illegal retrospectively after previously being legal so compensation should be paid?

You would think so, but this is what results from decades old legislation allowing this to happen. Another item in the 'to do list' if we ever get a root and branch review of firearms law...

30 minutes ago, Scully said:

Perhaps in that case it would have been a better idea for our policy makers to have deemed them illegal prior to them being offered for sale. 
I can only assume therefore those legitimate vendors who sold or imported for sale these handguns, are being prosecuted for selling them. 

The change in status in these guns came about, or is coming about (depending on which police updates one reads on this) from NCA testing of said guns. Some retailers are still selling some of these guns. 

[HantsRob]

14 hours ago, Weihrauch17 said:

I don't have one but surely they have been deemed illegal retrospectively after previously being legal so compensation should be paid?

To be fair, a bit of compensation is going to be the only incentive for some (otherwise) legally abiding citizens. If they have paid £100 for something and told to surrender it, and they can just do nothing and only risk being caught if they get raided, then there's little incentive apart from a morality.

A higher rate of surrender for a small fee would get far more off the streets, and then potentially prevent the costs of an investigation when one is converted. I wonder the cost of 1 complete police investigation, vs compensation to get 1000 of them off the streets.