Gun crime continues to fall as police crack down on criminals

Police have taken 63 firearms off the streets of Greater Manchester, bringing some of the region's most dangerous criminals to justice.

Between April and August 2026, officers have recovered a further 38 firearms as part of a ongoing crackdown to remove dangerous weapons from circulation and keeping communities safe. 

The force's relentless pursuit of offenders involved in gun crime has contributed to a significant reduction in firearms discharges across Greater Manchester. 

During 2025/26, there were just 16 recorded, representing a 45 per cent reduction compared to 2024/25 (29) and a 77 per cent reduction compared to 2021 (71). Since the April 1, 2026 the force has seen just three discharges. 

This sustained reduction has seen less firearms incidents on the streets, which will have undoubtably prevented potential serious violence and saved lives. 

The firearms recovered have come from proactive policing operations, targeted warrants and intelligence-led investigations carried out by local district officers and their Serious Organised Crime Group. 

Some of the weapons seized this year include self-loading pistols, revolvers, shotguns, machine guns, and a range of other viable firearms. 

In February this year, officers played a pivotal role in a nationwide operation targeting Italian manufactured, illegally converted blank-firing weapons called Bruni. 

The amnesty encouraged anyone who owned one of following Bruni models to turn them into any Greater Manchester Police station, these were: 

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 92 blank firing self-loading pistol 

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM New Police blank firing self-loading pistol 

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model 96 blank firing self-loading pistol 

• 8mm PAK Bruni BBM Model ‘GAP’ blank firing self-loading pistol 

• .380R (9mmK) PAK Bruni BBM ME Ranger single action blank firing revolver 

As part of a month-long surrender and amnesty scheme, officers recovered 67 weapons - separate to the 63 firearms recovered during 2025/26 - along with several hundred rounds of ammunition. 

Since April 2021, more than 420 viable firearms, with at least 143 of those identified as converted blank firers have been seized by police. 

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop from the Serious Crime Division said: "Every firearm we recover is a potential life saved. These weapons have no place on the streets of Greater Manchester and our officers work tirelessly every day to identify those involved in gun crime, disrupt organised criminality and remove dangerous weapons from circulation. 

"The fact that firearms discharges have reduced by 77 per cent since 2021 shows the impact of our work, how our officers are relentless in taking firearms off the streets and how our intelligence-led operation are wiping out those who possess these weapons. 

“Recovering more than 420 viable firearms since 2021 is a significant achievement, while these figures are encouraging, we are not complacent and remain absolutely committed to targeting more offenders who seek to bring violence and fear into our communities."