Month-long amnesty to target now-illegal Bruni firearms

Durham Constabulary is holding a four-week Firearms Amnesty for five types of BRUNI-manufactured 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 2025, after which anyone in possession of one the specified TVBFs could be subject to prosecution and up to 10 years imprisonment.

Top-venting blank firers 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 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

Hand-in stations: Durham City, Darlington, Peterlee and Bishop Auckland

In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are 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, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm.

More than 70 Bruni manufactured devices have been recovered following use in a variety of criminal offences and law enforcement data shows that at least five homicides have occurred using a converted TVBF since 2023.

Firearms legislation has not changed; the weapons are illegal to own under the Firearms Act 1968 as they can be readily converted using common household tools and without specialist skill on the part of the person carrying out the conversion. Recent testing completed by the NCA has demonstrated this. The police are asking people to hand in any TVBFs before February 27 in order to avoid prosecution and to prevent these pistols getting into the wrong hands.

Many TVBFs may be held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or may be overlooked or forgotten in people’s homes. The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of the TVBFs safely by taking it to a local police station and handing it in.

The amnesty for TVBFs will be held for four weeks. Other unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition may be surrendered to police at any time which will avoid the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place.

During the amnesty period, those handing in one of the five identified BRUNI TVBFs will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and they can remain anonymous. However, the history of any live firearms handed in will be checked for evidence if its use in crime.

DCI Lindsay Brown of Durham Constabulary said: “Gun crime in County Durham and Darlington remains rare but we are not complacent about gun crime. We are supporting the national BRUNI TVBF firearms amnesty, after tests have shown they can be readily converted into firearms, therefore making them illegal to possess.

“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: “The 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 top-venting blank firers from being converted will also go a significant way to help protect the public.”

Top-venting blank firers can be handed in at any police station but members of the public are advised to check their local opening times, and to contact 101 or visit their force’s website for advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station.

Anyone with information about illegal firearms activity is urged to contact police. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted 100% on 0800 555 111.