Dorset | Posted on February 3rd, 2025 | return to news
Firearms amnesty in Dorset this February
People in Dorset who are in possession of Turkish manufactured top-venting blank firers should hand them in to the police this month.

Dorset Police is supporting a national firearms amnesty this month for Turkish manufactured top-venting blank firers (TVBFs).
It will take place between Monday 3 February and Friday 28 February, after which time anyone in possession of such a firearm could be subject to prosecution and up to 10 years in prison.
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 an adult, unless they are readily convertible.
The firearms that have been found to be readily convertible and therefore illegal are the Turkish brands: Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow.
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.
Firearms legislation has not changed – these Turkish manufactured 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.
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 TVBF 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 of its use in crime.
Other unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition may be surrendered to police at any time as per normal procedures, which will avoid the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and allows them to be disposed of in a safe place.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for the Criminal Use of Firearms, said: “The top-venting blank firers are used by criminals and can be converted into lethal firearms.
“During the last two years, policing and the NCA has identified and disrupted several workshops used to convert these pistols into lethal weapons.
“In the same period, large numbers of converted weapons were recovered across multiple locations, alongside thousands of rounds of blank calibre and modified ammunition.
“One investigation recovered more than 400 converted weapons from a single crime group. There is a strong demand for them, evidenced by the numbers imported and subsequent recovery from criminals.”
Detective Inspector Scott Johnson, Criminal Use of Firearms Lead at Dorset Police, said: “Firearms offences in Dorset remain low compared to other counties and metropolitan areas. However, we are not complacent and remain committed to stamping out gun crime.
“We will not tolerate any activity involving illegal firearms and that is why we are supporting this national amnesty.
“Surrendering TVBFs manufactured by Blow, Ceonic, Ekol and Retay now will help prevent them getting into the wrong hands in the future and being used by criminals. I would encourage anyone in possession of one to please visit their local police station to hand them in.
“We are committed to working with our partners to educate people about firearms and the associated dangers and would urge anyone with information about those carrying illegal firearms or any other weapon to contact us by visiting www.dorset.police.uk or calling 101. In an emergency always dial 999.”
TVBFs can be handed in at any enquiry office, but please check the opening times on the police website before visiting. To receive advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station phone 101 before travelling.
If you know of anyone involved in illegal firearms activity, you should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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