ALMOST 1,000 air guns were handed into Ayrshire Police Division during a nationwide amnesty.

But police say they don’t know how many were handed into Irvine and Saltcoats Police Offices during the #SurrendAir campaign.

The Scotland-wide amnesty urged air rifle owners to give up their weapons before new legislation came into force. And although they couldn’t provide the figures for North Ayrshire, police previously told the Times that North Ayrshire gun owners were amongst the most conscientious in handing weapons over.

Overall, 938 air rifles were surrendered at police offices throughout Ayrshire.
The amnesty ran between May and June and 2,301 air rifles were given up across Scotland during the first week of the campaign.

Chief Inspector Tim Ross from Irvine Police Office was delighted with the amount handed in.

He said: “Every one of the 938 weapons surrendered could, if misused, have posed a threat to public safety and I’m pleased that so many responsible individuals have chosen to surrender their weapons for destruction to make sure that will never happen.”

From December 31 it will be a criminal offence to have an air weapon without a licence or permit and owners can apply for a certificate from Police Scotland.

But the new laws have been criticised with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation saying they were “disproportionate”.

Chief Superintendent Gillian MacDonald, Divisional Commander for Ayrshire Division previously said: “Police Scotland fully supports the new legislation and the new licensing arrangements which are being introduced.

"Reducing the numbers of unwanted air weapons will help to make Ayrshire safer and it is important to remember that keeping an air weapon without a licence will soon be a criminal offence.”