ALMOST 700 guns were handed in to police stations across Hertfordshire in April as the Constabulary took part in a National Firearms Amnesty.

Running for a month, the amnesty encouraged people to anonymously surrender their guns to local police stations without fear of prosecution for carrying them.

The final haul of 682 firearms included 139 handguns, 171 shotguns, 39 rifles, 113 imitation firearms, 102 air rifles, 99 air pistols and 19 other firearms. Over 14,000 rounds of ammunition and 110 other weapons including two grenades, a rocket launcher, CS spray, bayonets and knives were also surrendered during the amnesty.

Superintendent Steve Hughes, who is head of the Constabulary's Crime Reduction Department, and has co-ordinated the amnesty in the county said: "The amnesty has been a real success in Hertfordshire and has exceeded our expectations in terms of the number and variety of guns that have been handed in.

"Although the public response to the amnesty has been positive it's important that we don't forget the real reason behind it, and that is to reduce the risks of these weapons being used to seriously injure or kill people, or in crimes in the future.

"Even though the amnesty has ended, the Constabulary will continue to work closely with other agencies to tackle the growing problem of gun crime and warn of the perils of possessing both real and imitation firearms."

May 6, 2003 14:30