Police say almost 2500 weapons have been surrendered during a two-month amnesty in Victoria, and Bendigo was by the far biggest source of the unwanted or illegal items.
Bendigo police took in 164 firearms and other weapons, well up on the next highest total, 87, handed in by Warrnambool residents.
The amnesty, announced as part of the state’s community safety month, ended on 30 November, and as well as rifles it received handguns, home-made firearms, double-edged knives, machetes, daggers and similar weapons. All will be destroyed.
Police provided a breakdown to Sporting Shooter showing the majority of the weapons were firearms, mostly rifles:
Handguns, 128
Longarms, 1633
Imitation firearms, 103
Bladed weapons, 443
Other weapons, 143
Total, 2450
The police could not provide details about the licensing categories the longarms fell into.
“It’s a good result for Victoria Police and the community as a whole – 2450 less weapons on our streets and no chance of them ever being used again,” Superintendent Russell Barrett said.
“Whether it was a forgotten firearm in the shed or a handmade knife, they are no longer in our community.
“We thank those members of the public who took advantage of the amnesty to hand them in to police.”
The penalty for carrying an illegal weapon is up to two years imprisonment, or up to 10 years for firearms offences.
Top 10 areas
Bendigo, 164
Warrnambool, 87
Frankston, 65
Warragul, 58
Ringwood, 55
Rosebud, 55
Shepparton, 55
Croydon, 54
Lilydale, 54
Wangaratta, 52
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