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Over 1,000 top-venting blank firing guns handed in as part of national amnesty

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A converted Ceonic TVBF. Image credit: Merseyside Police

Following the announcement last month of a blank firing gun amnesty, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has said more than 1,000 such weapons have been handed in to Police forces across England and Wales so far.

Manufactured in Turkey, the top-venting blank firing (TVBF) guns — which are popular among criminal gangs due to their ability to be easily modified into live weapons — are soon to be outlawed.

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 over 18s unless they are readily convertible.

Police forces across England and Wales have been holding a four-week Firearms Amnesty for Turkish manufactured TVBFs namely models with the brand names ‘Retay’, ‘Ekol’, ‘Ceonic’ and ‘Blow’, although anyone with a TVBF who is unsure of whether the law change applies to them has been given the simple advice – if in doubt, hand it in.

“These weapons are readily convertible and therefore have been outlawed. Only with the public’s support can we get these potentially lethal weapons off the streets.

“What we have seen so far this month that the public have taken onboard the message and are visiting their local police station to hand in these weapons. It is important the public hand in these weapons to avoid them being used by criminals.

“Taking these weapons off the streets will stop them from being converted and go a significant way to help protect the public.

“With less than 10 days until the amnesty finishes, I would urge anyone with a Turkish manufactured TVBF to hand it in to their local police force. If you are in doubt whether yours is one of the brands, I would encourage you to hand it in to the police.”

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for the Criminal Use of Firearms.

The amnesty started on 3 February and is due to end next week on 28 February 2025, after which anyone in possession of a TVBF could be subject to prosecution and up to 10 years imprisonment.

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