A deadly AK47 assault rifle has been handed in to Kirklees police under a weapons amnesty.
The Kalashnikov gun was one of 80 handed over at police stations during the “No questions asked” campaign.
And police chiefs are delighted with the success of the month-long amnesty, which ended last night. A huge haul of guns and knives has been taken of the streets of Huddersfield and other towns.
More than 150 knives, swords and bladed weapons and 80 guns were handed in at the county’s police stations during the campaign launched last month, with the support of stabbing victim Vincent Uzomah.
Among the haul were an AK47 rifle handed in in Bradford and another AK47 rifle, surrendered in Kirklees.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams said: “We are delighted with the response. Some of these weapons are clearly very dangerous. Now they will not find their way on to the streets of our communities.
“They will not be used for criminal activity or to hurt or at worse kill someone.
“While we continue to maintain a low number of recorded crimes involving guns, knives and other weapons, we take it extremely seriously which is why initiatives like this are held.
“Weapons surrenders like this are very important and even though we have had these handed in we cannot afford to be and will not be complacent. Over the weekend, for example, we had a firearms discharge in Huddersfield which is currently being investigated.”
Mr Uzomah, 51, of Leeds, was working as a teacher at Dixons Kings Academy in Bradford in June last year when he was stabbed by a teenage boy. He said: “The response has been very impressive. Well done to those who responded to this noble call, and surrendered their weapons.”
Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I have fully supported this weapons surrender and am pleased we have had so many weapons handed in.
“This surrender has given individuals a perfect opportunity to ensure the weapons are disposed of safely and ensures we are doing all we can to keep our communities safe and preventing potential crimes of the future.”
During the campaign those surrendering firearms, ammunition knives and other offensive weapons would not face prosecution for simply possessing these weapons and they could remain anonymous.
The initiative was being supported by the Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife campaign which aims to bring together anti-knife campaigners across the country to reduce the number of weapons on the streets and make communities safer.
What was handed in across Wet Yorkshire
Leeds: 29 firearms and 82 bladed and offensive weapons
Bradford: 33 firearms and 26 bladed and offensive weapons
Calderdale: 3 firearms and 25 bladed and offensive weapons
Wakefield: 4 firearms and 0 bladed and offensive weapons
Kirklees: 12 firearms and 22 bladed and offensive weapons
