Four week Amnesty launched for illegal Turkish Blank Firers
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Merseyside Police is holding a four-week Firearms Amnesty for Turkish manufactured top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) which are now illegal to possess following testing by the National Crime Agency and policing.
The Amnesty will take place between 3 to 28 February 2025, after which anyone in possession of a top-venting blank firer (TVBF) could be subject to prosecution and up to 10 years imprisonment.
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. Top-venting blank firers (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.
A converted Ceonic TVBF recovered by Merseyside Police. The blue colour along the top of the weapon has been stripped so it resembles an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon
An unconverted Retay (L) and Ekol (R) TVBF
Find your nearest drop-off point
Top-venting blank firers can be handed in at 10 police stations across Merseyside during the Amnesty period.
When bringing items to a police station for surrender, members of the public are asked to wrap it up securely and place it in a sealed bag or box, it must stay covered at all times.
To receive further advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station phone 101 before travelling.
Main Stations
Open Monday to Friday 10am – 8pm and Saturday 10am – 6pm
- St Anne Street, Liverpool, L3 3HJ
- Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 5EU
- Huyton, Knowsley, L36 9XU
- St Helens, WA10 1TG
- Southport, Sefton, PR9 0LL
Sister Stations
Open Tuesday to Friday 10am – 6pm
- Admiral Street, Liverpool, L8 8JN
- Wallasey, Wirral, CH44 1DA
- Kirkby, Knowsley, L32 8RF
- Newton-Le-Willows, St Helens, WA12 9BW
- Bootle (Marsh Lane), Sefton, L20 5BW
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 firearms are the Turkish brands: Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow.
Within the Merseyside area there have been at least 37 converted blank-firing weapons recovered of Ceonic, Ekol, and Retay manufacture since January 2021. Additional converted blank-firing weapons have also been recovered.
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.
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.
During the Amnesty period, those handing in a Turkish manufactured TVBF will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and will not have to give their details. However, the history of any live firearms handed in will be checked for evidence if its use in crime.
Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said: “As a force, we have seen firsthand the dangers, consequences and ripple effect gun crime has on individuals, families and the wider Merseyside community. We have worked hard over the last few years to bring down the number of discharges on our streets and we will do everything in our power to prevent further discharges and loss of life.
“That’s why this Turkish Top-Venting Firearms Amnesty is so important, after tests have shown they can be readily converted into firearms, therefore making them illegal to possess.
“Surrendering top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) manufactured by Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow now will help prevent them getting into the wrong hands in the future and being converted and used by criminals.
“I would encourage anyone with one of these weapons in their possession to support our mission to proactively tackle gun crime and hand it in to a police station during the Amnesty between 3-28 February.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the firearms amnesty take place?
The Amnesty will start from Monday 3 February to Friday 28 February 2025, for a four-week period.
Why is the Firearms Amnesty taking place now?
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.
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.
How will the Firearms Amnesty help?
Every top-venting blank firer (TVBF) given up is one less that criminals can potentially convert and use.
Has Firearms Legislation changed?
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.
What about the rights of legal firearms holders during the amnesty?
It does not affect the firearms held by licenced firearms holders. It is aimed at preventing lethal firearms falling into the wrong hands.
If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity should call the Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or visit the website: Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers. Always call 999 in an emergency.
Every call to Crimestoppers is anonymous and potentially vital to preventing or solving serious crimes; removing an illegally held firearm may just save someone’s life.