Firearms Amnesty

Hertfordshire is taking part in a national firearms amnesty between Monday 2 and Friday 27 February.

During the amnesty, members of the public in Hertfordshire are encouraged to contact police if they possess a Bruni manufactured Top-Venting Blank-Firing (TVBF) firearm, to arrange an appointment to surrender it at Hatfield or Stevenage police stations.

The four-week amnesty aims to prevent these TVBF firearms from falling into the wrong hands and to avoid criminalising owners who are unaware the law has changed. Most TVBFs could previously be possessed without a firearms certificate. However, it has been discovered many can be readily converted into viable firearms, making them illegal to own even if no conversion is attempted.

During the amnesty owners of Bruni manufactured TVBFs can hand them to police with no fear of prosecution, provided the handguns have not been modified.

To arrange an appointment for a surrender, or to make enquiries about the amnesty call 101, quoting Operation Pivot. Owners of Turkish manufactured TVBFs, which were the subject of an amnesty in February 2025, are also advised to take this opportunity to surrender their handguns and avoid prosecution

Superintendent Clare Smith, who is leading the campaign said: “Serious firearms incidents are rare in Hertfordshire, but regular weapons amnesties are part of our continuing efforts to reduce violent crime in the county and nationally. While we do not anticipate that there will be many of these kinds of firearms in the county, they need to be removed from circulation as to prevent them falling into the hands of criminals and be converted into a deadly weapon.”

More information on the amnesty can be found here: New amnesty announced for Italian-made blank firing guns to be surrendered - National Crime Agency

If you suspect anyone is involved with illegal firearms, please call 101 or contact Crimestoppers completely anonymously on 0800 555 111.