Kent Police Launches February Firearm Amnesty to Snag Illegal Guns
Kent Police are cracking down on illegal firearms with a month-long amnesty running from 3 to 28 February 2025. The target? Dangerous top-venting blank-firing (TVBF) weapons that pose a real threat on UK streets.
What Are These Weapons and Why Are They Dangerous?
While blank-firing guns are legal to buy in the UK, specific models made by Turkish brands Blow, Ceonic, Ekol, and Retay can be converted into deadly firearms. Possession of these converted TVBFs is illegal.
During the amnesty, anyone handing in one of these firearms will not face prosecution. But once the deadline passes, holdouts risk arrest and a hefty prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Where to Hand Over Illegal Guns in Kent
Residents can drop off illegal TVBF firearms at designated police stations across Kent, including:
- Canterbury – Old Dover Road
- Folkestone – Bouverie Road West
- Maidstone – Palace Avenue
- Margate – Fort Hill
- Medway – Purser Way, Gillingham
- North Kent – Thames Way, Northfleet
- Tonbridge – Pembury Road
Kent Police advise travelling straight to the station and keeping any firearm concealed at all times, even at the station until instructed otherwise.
Police Urge Residents: Surrender Now Before It’s Too Late
“We anticipate many owners don’t realise their firearms are illegal or have no criminal intent,” said Detective Chief Inspector Martin Davies. “The goal is to remove these dangerous weapons before they fall into the wrong hands.”
“Kent is a safe county and we want to keep it that way. Since 2021, over 800 TVBF firearms linked to crime have been confiscated nationwide. They’ve been involved in at least four murders in the past two years. Converted, these weapons are highly dangerous.”
Don’t risk prison. If you know someone with one of these weapons, or own one yourself, use the amnesty to hand it in safely and keep Kent’s streets safe.
