MORE than a hundred guns were handed in to North Wales Police during a two-week firearms surrender.

The firearms surrender ran from April 4 and until Monday and gave the public the chance to dispose of unwanted, unlicensed weapons at a number of police stations across the region to avoid the risk of them becoming involved in criminality. 

At a press conference yesterday (Thursday, April 21) Chief Inspector Richie Green thanked the public for their support during the initiative, which saw shotguns, air weapons, hand guns, rifles and ammunition of various calibre handed in - all of which are to be destroyed.

Chief Inspector Green said: "We're extremely pleased with that way that it's happened over the last two weeks, over a hundred submissions means there's over a hundred less out there that can be used.

"The fact the region itself has had a high number of submissions is quite encouraging to us in North Wales as well.

"Because of the links between North Wales, Liverpool and Manchester - with it being a success there it has added to the success that we've had here.

"There's over a hundred reasons to feel safer in North Wales."

A spokesperson for North Wales Police said not all firearms and ammunition submissions have yet been received at Police HQ in Colwyn Bay.

So far 116 have been received but indications are the final totals will be well over 120 - as compared to the 97 items received during the last surrender in 2014 - which include 40  Shotguns, 23 Air weapons (rifles and pistols), 17 hand guns, three rifles, and approximately 35 submissions of ammunition.

Chief Inspector Green added: "We are fortunate not to have a gun crime problem here in North Wales but we do have a large number of legally owned firearms in people's possessions.

"Unfortunately these firearms can fall into the wrong hands and may end up being used in crime."

Although the campaign is over, people can still hand in their unwanted firearms at Wrexham, Mold, Rhyl, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Caernarfon, Bangor and Holyhead Police stations.

If you have firearms to surrender but are unable to attend a police station, contact 101 so North Wales Police can arrange for them to be collected.

If anyone has concerns regarding firearms in the community, contact North Wales Police on 101, or in an emergency dial 999. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.