Amnesty as starting pistol made illegal

A starter pistol which can easily be converted to a live gun and has been linked to three attempted murders will be illegal from June 4, said the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo).

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Apr 2010, 23:28 BST

Updated 16th Apr 2010, 23:28 BST

Imports of the Italian-manufactured Olympic .380 BBM were stopped last month, and Acpo urged anyone with this model to hand it in during an amnesty launched today.

After June 4 the weapon will be prohibited under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 and possessing it will lead to a mandatory prison sentence of five years.

Acpo lead on the criminal use of firearms Assistant Chief Constable Sue Fish, said a converted Olympic .380 BBM had "not yet" been used to kill but action was needed because it was so easy to convert.

She did not want to criminalise "the vast majority who purchased it quite legitimately" and appealed for those who bought the model to start races or for dog training to hand it in, saying: "The status of this firearm has changed."