Hampshire Police Launch Amnesty for Potentially Dangerous Blank-Firing Pistols
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has joined a national firearms amnesty this month targeting five models of Italian-made Top Venting Blank Firers (TVBFs) that have been found to be readily convertible into functional firearms.
The campaign runs from Monday 2 February to Friday 27 February. After the amnesty, anyone in possession of the specified models could face prosecution and up to ten years’ imprisonment.
While side or top-venting blank-firing pistols, which have fully blocked barrels and are designed to fire only blank cartridges, are generally legal in the UK, recent testing revealed that certain Bruni models can be converted into lethal weapons. The affected models are:
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank-firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police blank-firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 blank-firing self-loading pistol
• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ blank-firing self-loading pistol
• .380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single-action blank-firing revolver
Nationally, more than 70 Bruni-manufactured devices have been recovered following criminal use, and law enforcement data shows that at least five homicides have occurred using a converted TVBF since 2023.
During the amnesty, owners in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can hand in these firearms anonymously at one of four police stations:
• Northern Police Investigation Centre, Basingstoke
• Eastern Police Investigation Centre, Portsmouth
• Western Police Investigation Centre, Southampton
• Newport Police Station, Isle of Wight
Police warn that the history of any live firearms handed in will be checked for evidence of criminal use. Advice on safe transportation of firearms can be obtained by calling 101 before travelling.
Chief Inspector Hayley O’Grady, operation lead for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, said:
“We have low levels of gun crime in our force area and we want to keep it that way. Our support for this national campaign will mean that owners of these now-illegal models of blank firers can hand them in safely and stop them from getting into the wrong hands. If you own one of these models, I’d urge you to hand them in. If you don’t, you will run the risk of prosecution and a lengthy prison sentence.”
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for the Criminal Use of Firearms, added:
“Side or top-venting blank firers are very appealing to criminals and offenders who convert them, as they can generate large profits. As well as urging people to surrender their Bruni TVBF if it is one of the five models which have now been identified as readily convertible, we are continuing to target those involved in the criminal use of firearms. We work closely with the National Crime Agency (NCA) to identify and disrupt workshops used to covert pistols into lethal weapons, recover weapons and ammunition, and bring offenders to justice. There continues to be a strong demand for such weapons, evidenced by the numbers imported and subsequent recovery from criminals, and we will be relentless in our pursuit of those posing such a risk to our communities. Stopping the sale of these side or top-venting blank firers from being converted will also go a significant way to help protect the public.”
The Constabulary reminded the public that other unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition can be surrendered at any time, which avoids the risk of them being used in crime and provides a safe disposal method.
Members of the public who are aware of illegal firearms activity are encouraged to contact 101, submit information via the Hampshire Police website, or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Every call is anonymous and could help prevent serious crime.