Police encourage anyone with an illegal or unwanted firearm to surrender it during an upcoming mobile firearms amnesty held across the state.

“Over the next month, police will be holding a mobile firearms amnesty at various locations across the state, for people to surrender firearms and ammunition without fear of being prosecuted for the possession,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Wilkinson.

“Under Tasmania’s permanent firearms amnesty, people can surrender illegal and unwanted firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, or gel blasters that imitate a firearm, without being prosecuted for the possession.

“Every illicit firearm in our community is a concern to police. 

“We will continue to take every opportunity to remove illicit firearms from our community – utilising a number of methods including random firearms storage inspections, investigating diligently when firearms incidents or thefts occur, and holding these mobile amnesty drives. 

“If you have a firearm that you know you shouldn’t have, please surrender it at the amnesty to ensure there is no potential for it to get into the wrong hands and become a danger.” 

“There will be a mobile firearms amnesty at locations in Western Tasmania this weekend, and in the North and South of the state over the coming weeks.”

“If you’re attending the amnesty to surrender items, please leave them in your vehicle, walk up and speak to officers on site and they will safely retrieve the items,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Wilkinson. 

“If you have items to surrender but you’re unable or uncomfortable to transport them, attend the amnesty and speak to officers, or call us on 131 444 and police will organise collection from you.” 

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

Tasmania Police will have a mobile firearms amnesty:

• Saturday 26 August:
  • DEVONPORT: 10am-12noon, at East Devonport Recreation and Function Centre, 67 Caroline Street, East Devonport
  • BURNIE: 2pm-4pm, at Ridgley Community Centre, 2 Parker Court, Ridgley

• Sunday 27 August:
  • WYNYARD: 10am-12noon, at Railway Institute, 2 Station Street, Wynyard
  • SMITHTON: 2pm-4pm, at Basketball Stadium Indoor Sports Centre, 110-114 Nelson Street, Smithton

• Saturday 2 September: 
  • EXETER: 9am-11am, at Winkleigh Fire Station, 1068 Winkleigh Road, Winkleigh
  • SCOTTSDALE: 1pm-3pm, Scottsdale Recreation Ground, George Street, Scottsdale

• Sunday 3 September: 
  • CAMPBELL TOWN: 9am-11am, Campbell Town Fire Station, 79 High Street, Campbell Town
  • DELORAINE: 1pm-3pm, Rotary Function Centre, 6 Alverstone Drive, Deloraine

• Saturday 9 September: 
  • BRIDGEWATER: 10am-2pm, Bridgewater Police Station, Green Point Road

• Sunday 10 September: 
  • *GLENORCHY: 10am-2pm, *Glenorchy Police Station, Main Road, Glenorchy (*location changed from Bridgewater Police Station).