Police encourage anyone in Southern Tasmania with an illegal or unwanted firearm to surrender it at a mobile firearms amnesty at Bridgewater and Glenorchy this weekend.

“As part of a mobile firearms amnesty held across the state over the last few weeks, this weekend people in Southern Tasmania are encouraged to surrender illegal or unwanted firearms without fear of being prosecuted for the possession,” said Senior Constable Paul Hyland.

“At mobile firearms amnesty locations in the North-West and North over the last two weekends, 53 firearms have been surrendered, and we know there are more illegal and unwanted firearms in our community.

“If you’re in Southern Tasmania and have illegal or unwanted firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, or gel blasters that have the appearance of a firearm, please surrender them at the Bridgewater or Glenorchy amnesty location this weekend.”

The mobile firearms amnesty will be:

• Saturday (9 September), 10am to 2pm, at Bridgewater Police Station
• Sunday (10 September), 10am to 2pm, at Glenorchy Police Station

“If you’re attending the amnesty to surrender items, please leave the items in your vehicle, walk up and speak to officers on site and they will safely retrieve the items,” said Senior Constable Paul Hyland.

Tasmania has a permanent firearms amnesty which means people can surrender items to police at any time without being prosecuted for the possession. Outside of a mobile amnesty, firearms and ammunition can be surrendered by phoning police on 131 444, and organising to attend a police station, or for an officer to attend your residence for collection.

Anyone with information about stolen or illegal firearms in the community can do their part, by providing information to police on 131 444 or to Crime Stoppers anonymously online at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000.