Tasmania Police is conducting mobile firearms amnesties in the North-West and West Coast areas over the next few weeks.

The first of the North-West and West Coast amnesties will be on Sunday in Sheffield.

Police will establish mobile receiving sites at recreation grounds in Sheffield, Queenstown, Strahan, Rosebery, Zeehan and Smithton, where anyone with an unwanted firearm or ammunition can hand it to police.

“Our recent amnesties in the Hobart and Launceston areas have been a great success in removing unwanted and illegal firearms from the community.

“We are now hoping to remove unwanted and illegal guns from communities in the North-West and West Coasts,” said Inspector Stuart Wilkinson who will be managing the events,” he said.

Mobile receiving sites will be operated by police at the football grounds of each town and will offer a secure location for handing over firearms and ammunition.

“We won’t turn anyone away and people can remain anonymous if they wish,” said Inspector Wilkinson.

“Police officers will also be available to provide advice about appropriate storage requirements.

“We would also like to reiterate to anyone with unwanted or unregistered firearms that there is a permanent amnesty which allows for handing them over any time at any police station without fear of prosecution,” he said.

The amnesty means no action will be taken against anyone who voluntarily surrenders firearms or ammunition, to a police station, which they are not authorised to possess under the Firearms Act, 1996.

Anyone bringing firearms to an amnesty location is advised to ensure it is unloaded before transporting it and to follow the directions of the police officers when arriving at the designated parking area.

The amnesty times and locations are:

• 29 June 2014
  > Sheffield Football Ground – 9am – 1pm.
• 6 July 2014
  > Queenstown Football Ground – 9am – 12midday.
  > Strahan Football Ground – 1pm – 4pm.
• 13 July 2014
  > Zeehan Football Ground – 9am – 12midday.
  > Rosebery Football Ground – 1pm – 4pm.
• 20 July 2014
  > Smithton Football Ground – 9am – 3pm.

Tasmania Police is also currently running Operation Unification – Illegal Guns Off Our Streets. The operation, which ends on Sunday, aims to get illegal and unwanted guns out of circulation

Members of the public can also attend the mobile police station and speak to officers in relation to any information they may have about firearm crime or any other offences.

Further information can be obtained from your local police station or by phoning the police assistance line on 131444. Information can also be passed to Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.