181 firearms and ammunition have been handed to Thames Valley Police after a mass firearms surrender last month.

In a campaign supported by police forces in England and Wales, the force appealed to members of the public to hand in any unwanted guns.

This included 48 firearms and ammunition as part of the campaign coordinated by The National Ballistics Intelligence Service between May 12 and May 29.

Some of the items that were handed in to police were legal firearms that were no longer needed, however police have said that other have been distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate their local communities

READ MORE: Suchhem Gurung: Body found in search for missing man

Head of Firearms at Thames Valley Police, Superintendent Gavin Wong said: “Thank you to everyone who handed in any firearms or ammunition as part of the firearms surrender.

“This means that there are now 181 fewer firearms and items of ammunition that were either unwanted or held in ignorance of their illegality, which could have easily fallen into the hands of criminals.

“Thames Valley Police’s fight against gun crime is stronger than ever, as we work with our partners and local communities to safeguard, educate and intervene at the earliest opportunity. 

“We use various overt and covert tactics to locate weapons that have fallen into the wrong hands, but we also need the public’s help to ensure unwanted, unlicensed or illegal firearms are handed in.

READ MORE: Police warning over Range Rover theft on driveway in Bracknell

“Thankfully, firearms crime remains low across the country, and the national surrender prevents firearms from falling into the pool of criminally used weapons.

“Although the firearms surrender has now concluded, anyone who finds a firearm or is uncertain about the lawful possession of a firearm, please call police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

“Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously via its website or by calling 0800 555 111.”