Suffolk has been deemed a ‘safer place’ after handguns and working firearms were surrendered in a ‘no questions asked’ weapons purge.

Handguns, shotguns, rifles, and imitation firearms are among the hundreds of weapons so far handed into police during a region-wide amnesty.

Since, last Monday a total of 140 guns have been surrendered to officers in Suffolk following the launch of a campaign to reduce the threat of weapons falling into the wrong hands.

Having surveyed the volume and variety of guns handed in, police are now continuing to ask people to surrender any unlicensed or unwanted firearms as part of the amnesty, which allows people to hand over their firearms without fear of prosecution.

A further 165 guns have been surrendered at police stations in Norfolk.

Richard Kennett, joint firearms manager for Norfolk and Suffolk Police, said: “We’re really pleased with how many guns have been handed in so far. We’ve received a variety of weapons including hand guns, shot guns, rifles, and imitation firearms.

“Some of the guns are in working order and would be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, by taking them off the streets we are helping to make Norfolk and Suffolk even safer places to live.

“If you have received a gun through inheritance for example, and you’re not sure what to do with it, or if you have a licensed gun that you no longer want or need, this is an ideal opportunity to hand it over and to prevent it falling into the wrong hands.”

The amnesty, which runs until Friday, November 21, was launched following recent legislation changes which prevent anyone who has received a custodial or suspended sentence for three months or longer from owning a gun.

People should make sure that their gun is unloaded and covered up and, if possible, ring police beforehand on 101.

If police suspect that the weapon has been used in a crime, then its history will be searched and prosecutions could be made in relation to any linked investigations.