Local Residents Urged to Hand in Illegal Bruni Blank Firers Before Amnesty Ends
Police in Rutland and Leicestershire are making a final push for the surrender of specific blank-firing handguns, following the successful recovery of 14 weapons since the start of February.
Of the 14 firearms handed in so far, 10 were manufactured by the Italian brand Bruni. These specific models are the primary focus of a month-long national amnesty that is set to conclude on Friday, 27 February 2026.
While many of these items were originally purchased legally for use as theatrical props, collectors' items, or for dog training, recent testing by the National Crime Agency (NCA) has changed their legal status.
The NCA found that these specific "top-venting" or "side-venting" blank firers are "readily convertible." This means they can be turned into lethal, live-firing weapons using common household tools and without specialist engineering skills. Because of this high risk to public safety, they are now classified as prohibited firearms under the Firearms Act.
Police have highlighted five specific Bruni models that are now illegal to possess. If you own any of the following, you are urged to hand them in immediately:
8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 (Self-loading pistol)
8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police (Self-loading pistol)
8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 (Self-loading pistol)
8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ (Self-loading pistol)
.380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger (Single-action revolver)
The current amnesty provides a "safe window" for owners to dispose of these weapons. Between now and February 27, you can take these items to your local police station front desk without the risk of being prosecuted for illegal possession.
Once the amnesty ends, anyone found in possession of these models could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
How to Safely Hand Them In
Police are advising the public to follow these safety protocols when surrendering a firearm.
Place the item in a bag or box so it is not visible to the public during transit.
Make a specific journey solely for the purpose of handing the item in.
Upon arrival at the police station, inform the front counter staff immediately that you are there to surrender a firearm before taking it out of your bag.
Every weapon handed in is one less potential tool for criminal use. By surrendering these items now, residents are helping to ensure that Rutland and Leicestershire remain safe communities.
%20and%20a%20former%20employee%20of%20Rutland%20County%20Council..jpg)
.jpg)
%20Oakham%20into%20Electric%20Transport%20Base,%20with%20tree%20clearance%20(1).JPG){kind=spacer}
No comments:
Post a Comment
🎉 Comments Are Now Live! 🎉
Hello, Oakham and Rutland readers!
We have some exciting news to share with you: you can now comment directly on every single article on Oakham and Rutland News!
We're absolutely thrilled to be giving our amazing communities a real, active voice.
We know many towns often feel forgotten by big-name and regional media, but our mission at Oakham and Rutland News is to put local people back at the very heart of the conversation.
Now, it's easier than ever to tell us what matters most to you in your town or village, share your thoughts on local news, and connect with your neighbours. Leaving a comment is simple—just scroll down to the bottom of any article!
To keep things friendly and ensure real people are talking (not those pesky bots or fake accounts!), we kindly ask that you register with Google first.
Finally, we'll be keeping a close eye on the discussions to make sure they stay respectful and free from any bad language or abuse. This is all part of our commitment to high-quality, original local journalism that everyone can enjoy.
We truly can't wait to hear what you have to say. Your voice matters to us. Let's take Oakham and Rutland News to the next level, together!