Over 130 weapons including shotgun surrendered during Hackney weapons amnesty

Over 130 weapons including a shotgun and two replica pistols were surrendered during a weapons amnesty in Hackney.

The amnesty, which was advertised in the Gazette, asked for people to surrender unlawfully held guns and ammunition to help avoid them falling into the wrong hands.

Bins were placed outside Stoke Newington and Shoreditch Police Stations and a mobile police station was used to place a bin at different locations in the borough every day for the course of the two week period.

By the time it ended last Thursday 126 knives, a shotgun, two replica pistols and two BB guns had been deposited into the bins.

Sgt Dev Singh, from the Homerton neighbourhood team who organized the amnesty said his team are determined to rid Hackney’s streets of illegal weapons.

“The number of crimes involving guns and knives continues to fall in Hackney, however we are not complacent,” he said.

“Anyone caught carrying a weapon can expect to be arrested and prosecuted, but this amnesty was another way for people in the community to help us keep the streets safe.

“This amnesty is only one part of our ongoing work to make the streets of Hackney a safer place.”