World War Two machine guns among 140 firearms handed to police during #GiveUpYourGun campaign

Two Second World War Machine guns were handed in to police in the first week of a gun amnesty launched by Scotland Yard.

Over the past week more than 140 firearms have been handed in to police in London as part of the Met's #GiveUpYourGun campaign.

The weapons, which have been deactivated, were among five automatic guns turned over to police.

Detective Superintendent Mike Balcombe, of the Met’s Trident and Area Crime command said: “We are very pleased with the public response to the first week of the gun surrender. Every firearm handed in to police makes the city safer as it prevents them from falling into the hands of criminals.”

In the breakdown of firearms that have so far been handed in, police revealed that 48 air weapons, 31 shotguns, 11 pistol guns, 10 hand guns, 9 revolvers and 6 rifles were handed in.

Police also said that 23 imitation guns had been brought to them.

Detective Balcome said that the amount of guns handed in during this gun amnesty has already surpassed the previous campaign that took place in February. During that week long scheme, 90 firearms were handed in.

He said that he thought that media attention and increased public awareness had encouraged more people to come forward.

"The Met's Trident team is committed to reducing gun crime in the capital and I would urge anyone else who is in possession of an illegal firearm to visit their local 24-hour police station during the final days of the gun surrender,” Detective Balcombe said.

The National gun surrender is in partnership with the City of London.

Firearms can be handed in at any of the Met’s 24 hour police stations or Bishopsgate Police Station in the City of London.

The surrender is due to finish on 26 November.

If anyone has any information about someone who they believe is in possession of an illegal gun, they can ring police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.