Sussex Police supports national firearms amnesty launching in February

Sussex Police is joining other forces across the country in a four-week Firearms Amnesty for five types of BRUNI-manufactured side / top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) which are now illegal to possess following testing by the National Crime Agency and policing.

The amnesty will take place between February 2 and 27, 2026, after which anyone in possession of one of the specified TVBFs could be subject to prosecution and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.  

Owners of these TVBFs are being forewarned ahead of the law change, however, and will be given the chance to surrender these weapons to the police without fear of prosecution. 

During the amnesty period, those handing in a BRUNI TVBFs 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. 

What are TVBFs? 
Top/side venting blank firers (TVBFs) are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18s unless they are readily convertible. Tests by the National Crime Agency and policing have shown that the following BRUNI models are readily convertible and are therefore illegal:  

• 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 

In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel designed to discharge only blank cartridges. When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon. TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour. However, as well as converting them from blank firers to live firearms, criminals may also paint them black, so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon. 
 
Nationally, more than 70 BRUNI manufactured devices have been recovered following use in a variety of criminal offences and police data shows that at least five homicides have occurred across the country using a converted TVBF since 2023. 

Many TVBFs may be held in ignorance of their illegality or overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of these weapons safely by surrendering them at a designated police station. 

Other unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition may be surrendered to police at any time following normal firearms surrender processes. 

Chief Inspector Roy Hodder, Sussex Police’s Protective Safety and Firearms Unit, said: “Gun crime in Sussex remains very rare but there is no room for complacency, which is why firearms amnesties such as these remain so important. 

“Surrendering these weapons now will help prevent them getting into the wrong hands in the future and being used by criminals, so we want as many top-venting blank firers as possible to be handed in. 

“Together with our partners we continually work hard to educate people about firearms and the dangers that come with them, to ensure that gun crime doesn’t become prevalent in the future.” 

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for the Criminal Use of Firearms, said: “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 in to 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.” 

Designated stations for the amnesty 
People can hand these blank firers in over the counter at designated police stations between these dates, while anyone unable to travel to one of these locations can call the police on 101 to request it be picked up from their home. 

Anyone wishing to take part in the amnesty has been urged to use common sense when transporting their TVBF to one of the chosen stations – by placing them in a labelled bag or box and making their way straight there. 

Top/Side Venting Blank Firers can be handed in at the following police stations across Surrey and Sussex: 

Surrey 

• Guildford Police Station, Margaret Road, Guildford, GU1 4QS (open daily 8am-10pm)
• Staines Police Station, Kingston Road, Staines, TW18 4LQ (open daily 8am-10pm)
• Caterham Police Station, Timber Hill Road, Caterham, CR3 6LD (open daily 8am-10pm) 

Sussex 

West Sussex 

• Chichester Police Station, Kingsham Road, Chichester, PO19 8AD (open Monday-Saturday 9am- 5pm)
• Crawley Police Station, Northgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 8BF (open Monday-Saturday 9am- 5pm)
• Worthing Police Station, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1LY (open Monday-Saturday 9am- 5pm) 

Brighton 

• Brighton Police Station, John Street, Brighton and Hove, BN2 0LA (open Monday-Sunday 8am-8pm) 

 
East Sussex 

• Eastbourne Customer Contact Point, Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4TL (open Monday-Saturday 9am- 5pm)
• Uckfield Police Station, New Town, Uckfield, TN22 5DL (open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 10am – 2pm) 
• Hastings Police Station, Bohemia Road, Hastings, TN34 1JJ (open Monday–Saturday 9am-5pm) 

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

• The ‘tell us about something you’ve seen or heard’ form on our website: 
  SURREY: https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/ 
  SUSSEX: https://www.sussex.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/
• Calling 101 

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.