Police have conducted the last of four Western District mobile firearms amnesty events at Smithton today between 9am and 3pm. A total of 18 firearms were handed in; nine shotguns and nine rifles.

People attended the site for information as well as to hand in firearms and were provided information from Firearms Services who were at the site with Western District police personnel.

Inspector Stuart Wilkinson said “That concludes the planned Western District mobile firearm amnesty events. Based on the success of the last four weeks, we will likely have similar amnesty events later in the year in places we have not been. We are very pleased with the response from the communities we have attended over the past four weeks in Sheffield, Queenstown, Strahan, Rosebery, Zeehan and now Smithton. A total of 44 firearms were received.”

The amnesty in relation to firearms continues and people with unregistered or unwanted firearms are always able to surrender them to police without fear of prosecution.

Police continue to seek information in relation to illegal firearms and information can be passed on by calling the police assistance line 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.