In the know

Surrey Police are holding a four-week firearms amnesty for Turkish-manufactured top-venting blank firers (TVBFs), which are now illegal to possess. 

The amnesty runs from 3-28 February, after which anyone in possession of a TVBF could be subject to prosecution and up to 10 years imprisonment. 

Top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18s unless they are readily convertible. However, tests have shown that models produced by four Turkish manufacturers are readily convertible and therefore illegal. The prohibited brands are Retay, Ekol, Ceonic, and Blow.

Since 2021, UK law enforcement has recovered more than 800 Turkish-manufactured TVBFs in criminal circumstances and converted blank firers have been used in at least four homicides in the UK in the last two years. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of these weapons safely by surrendering them at a designated police station. 

During the amnesty, 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 following normal firearms surrender processes.

Top-Venting Blank Firers can be handed in at the following police stations across the county:

If you have any information around illegal firearms activity you can contact us via:

If you don't want to speak to police, you can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Every call to Crimestoppers is anonymous and could be vital in preventing or solving serious crimes. Removing an illegally held firearm may just save someone’s life.