THE ban on large-calibre handguns came in to effect on Tuesday (July 1) and police will be contacting owners to make arrangements for the weapons to be handed in at designated police stations across Merseyside, where compensation will be given for each handgun.
Police know there are 3,500 legally-held large-calibre handguns on Merseyside and owners are being urged not to hand in their weapons until they are contacted by the enquiry officer.
Owners have until Sept 30 this year to surrender guns, which will then be sent off by police to be destroyed and smelted.
Owners of .22-calibre handguns are also being encouraged to surrender their weapons, and they will also receive ex-gratia payments if they choose to do so in anticipation of the Firearms Bill currently before Parliament.
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