Greater Manchester Police: Gun amnesty seeks to round up illegal pistols

The NPCC said in some circumstances the guns may have been “held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or may be overlooked or forgotten in people’s homes”.

It added: “The amnesty gives holders the chance to dispose of them safely.”

Det Supt Harrop, who leads GMP’s team that recoveres firearms, said: “In Greater Manchester, we haven’t had many incidents involving [these guns], but it’s always a possibility, like with any firearm, these could end up in the wrong hands.”

He said the force had seized 61 converted models in the past three years.

People are advised to drop off the firearms at the front desk of any police station and place them in a bag or a box to prevent alarming members of the public and to ensure safety.