Ref. 23929-9 Jason Birch hands in a gun to an officer at Westlea Police Station during the gun amnesty last April A total of 574 guns, 41 illegal firearms and 7,526 rounds of ammunition were handed into Wiltshire police during a month long gun amnesty in April last year. The amnesty coincided with tough new legislation on the possession of illegal weapons, which will see those convicted receive a five-year minimum jail sentence.

In November last year the all-party Gun Crime Group, chaired by Diane Abbott, recommended numbers of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) be increased. There are currently 71 AFOs in Wiltshire.