Results of the Olympic .380 BBM amnesty announced

The national programme of activity was prompted after tests showed that the Olympic .380 BBM was readily convertible under the provision of the Firearms Act 1982. This brought the revolver into the classification of a prohibited weapon under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.

During the course of the seven week amnesty, 799 Olympic .380 BBM revolvers were handed to police, taking the number in police possession to 1,322.

By the end of March 2010, 179 converted Olympic .380 BBMs had been used in crimes such as grievous bodily harm with intent and attempted murder. To prevent further serious harm and to protect the public, the police service called an amnesty to remove these revolvers from circulation and deny violent criminals access to them.

ACPO lead on the criminal use of firearms, Assistant Chief Constable Susannah Fish, said:

“This hugely successful operation has removed a large number of these firearms from circulation. A significant number of converted Olympic .380 BBMs have been used in criminal activity and this action has helped to deal with the threat this weapon posed to our communities.

“This amnesty has been a great success because of the combined efforts of all police forces in England and Wales and other policing partners including the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS), Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the UK Border Agency (UKBA). I am also thankful to the Gun Trade Association (GTA), the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC) for their help to remove this type of firearm from the UK.

“If any member of the public has discovered an Olympic .380 BBM since the amnesty ended, we would encourage them to contact their local police force as soon as possible.”

In addition to the 799 Olympic .380 BBMs surrendered during the amnesty, the police also received 98 other blank firing weapons and 476 blank cartridges.
Anyone with information about firearms incidents or information about those who possess or have access to illegal firearms should contact their local police force or call the Crimestoppers Charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Olympic .380 BBM revolver amnesty ran between 9th April and 4th June 2010.

Through the course of the amnesty, 799 Olympic .380 BBMs were handed to police forces. This takes the number in police possession to 1,322 which includes those weapons that had already been recovered, declared or within police possession.

It is believed that between 1,300 and 1,500 Olympic .380 BBMs have been imported since 2006.

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk