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‘Fake’ AK-47 assault rifle among 115 guns given up in firearms amnesty


A replica of a semi-automatic gas-powered assault rifle is one of over 110 gun handed in to police in the last week as part of a two-week firearms amnesty.

The fake AK-47 – favourite of armed forces around the world – was given up by a member of the public to a police station in Greater Manchester.

The update means over 60 firearms have been collected since Thursday 7 April.

The two-week amnesty started on Monday 4 April 2016.

Read: 40 guns off the streets so far in 2016 firearms amnesty

Among the haul are 87 handguns, seven shotguns, 16 rifles, 15 lots of ammunition and at least five other offensive weapons.

Give Up The Gun seeks to get unlicenced weaponry off the streets with no questions asked.

Until midnight on Monday 18 April the public are allowed to drop off everything from revolvers to air rifles in to police stations across the region.

They won’t be asked for their name and they will be shielded from prosecution for owning or having in their possession illicit weaponry.

Police will dispose of any firearms or ammunition safely to prevent them getting into criminal hands.

It’s the first since 2014, when a month-long campaign saw 225 guns and 3,000 rounds of ammunition handed in to Greater Manchester Police.

GMP Assistant Chief Constable John O’Hare said: “It has been an extremely successful first week for the surrender and we would like to thank those who have taken the opportunity to give up the gun.

“However, we know there are many more firearms out there that we can take off the streets.

“We urge those who are still holding onto weapons to hand them in before the surrender comes to an end. The more weapons we are able to secure, the less opportunity there is for criminals to use them.”

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Tom is SalfordOnline.com's News Editor and community co-ordinator.