Police are encouraging anyone with illegal or unwanted firearms or ammunition to surrender the items during a mobile firearms amnesty drive this weekend.

“This weekend we’re holding a mobile firearms amnesty drive across the state and police encourage anyone with illegal or unwanted firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, or gel blasters that have the appearance of a firearm to attend and surrender items,” said Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar.

“Under Tasmania’s permanent firearms amnesty, people can surrender firearms, ammunition and firearm-related items without being prosecuted for the possession.”

“Every illegal firearm is a concern to police and we’re taking every opportunity to remove them from our community – utilising a number of methods including random firearms storage inspections, investigating diligently when firearms incidents or thefts occur, and holding mobile amnesty drives like this one.”

“If anyone has firearms, ammunition, or firearm-related items they know they shouldn’t have – I encourage them to surrender the items to police at the mobile firearms amnesty this weekend.”

Mobile firearms amnesty drives will be at the following:

Saturday, 1 June:

• South: NUBEENA: 10am-12noon, at Nubeena Police Station, 1601 Nubeena Road, Nubeena

• South: TRIABUNNA: 10am-12noon, at Triabunna Police Station, 2 Vicary Street, Triabunna

• North: NEWNHAM: 10am-11am: Newnham Police Station, George Town Road, Newnham

• North: GEORGE TOWN: 11am-12noon: George Town RSL, Main Road, George Town

• West: SHEFFIELD: 10am-11am, at Sheffiled Police Station, 37 Main Street, Sheffield

• West: FORTH: 2pm-3pm, at Forth Recreation Grounds car park, Mell Street, Forth

Sunday, 2 June:

• South: DUNALLEY: 10am-12noon, at Dunalley Police Station, 126 Arthur Highway, Dunalley

• South: SWANSEA: 10am-12noon, at Swansea Police Station, 6 Noyes Street, Swansea

• South: RICHMOND: 2pm-4pm, at Richmond Village Green car park, 35 Bathurst Street, Richmond

• North: CAMPBELL TOWN: 12noon-1pm: Campbell Town Police Station, High Street, Campbell Town

• West: STOWPORT: 10am-11am, at Stowport Hall, 574 Stowport Road, Stowport

• West: SMITHTON: 2pm-3pm, at Smithton Police Station, 22 Smith Street, Smithton

Monday, 3 June:

• South: SORELL: 10am-12noon, at Emergency Services Hub car park, 59 Cole Street, Sorell

• South: BICHENO: 10am-12noon, at Bicheno Police Station, 2 Champ Street, Bicheno

• West: Mobile amnesty to collect items by arrangement.

“If you’re attending the amnesty to surrender items – transport them safely and legally in your vehicle, leave them in your vehicle and walk up and speak to officers who will safely retrieve the items,” said Assistant Commissioner Bodnar.

“If you have items to surrender but you’re unable or unwilling to attend this amnesty drive in person, email firearms.amnesty@police.tas.gov.au or call 131 444 to make arrangements for police to collect items from you.”

Anyone who knows anything about illegal firearms in the community is encouraged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania online at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000.

“If you know anything about illegal firearms in the community you can report – completely anonymously – through Crime Stoppers Tasmania; they don’t need your personal details, just the information you can provide for investigation.”