Operation Aztec

Firearms surrender

Our firearms surrender across Sussex and Surrey begins on Thursday 12 May.

​The surrender, which runs until Sunday 29 May, forms part of a national campaign by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS). 

The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) run a firearm surrender every two years.

The aim of the operation is to reduce the number of illegally held firearms in circulation which could fall into the hands of criminals. This activity is referred to as Operation Aztec.

This includes replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, antique guns, component parts and other ballistic items. This year, CS Pepper spray, stun guns and Tasers are being requested as part of the surrender. Many firearms are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. Others are acquired and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate their local communities.

Each time it is run, this appeal gives people the chance to dispose of firearms or ammunition by simply handing them in at their local police station. 

While crimes involving firearms in Sussex and Surrey are extremely rare, we understand that every weapon poses a potential threat if not licensed and stored safely. That’s why we’re offering people this opportunity to safely hand in their unwanted weapons which, if in the wrong hands, could be deadly.

If you have any firearms which need to be handed into a Police Station so they can be safely disposed of, you can do this at the following locations:

Sussex

• Crawley Police Station, Northgate Avenue (Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 20:00)
• Worthing Police Station, 21 Chatsworth Road (Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 20:00)
• Chichester Police Station, Kingsham Road (Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 20:00)
• Hastings Police Station, Bohemia Road (Monday to Saturday 09:00-18:00)       
• Eastbourne Customer Contact Point, 1 Grove Road (Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:00)
• Uckfield Police Station (Monday to Friday 10:00 – 14:00)
• Brighton Police Station, John Street (Monday to Sunday 08:00-22:00)

Surrey

(All stations open Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 22:00)

• Guildford
• Reigate
• Staines 

Please also note recent legislation changes: any deactivated firearm deactivated prior to the new specifications of 5 March 2018 (UK implementation date 28 June 2018) is a ‘defectively-deactivated’ firearm and cannot be sold, purchased or gifted, but possession on the other hand is permitted.

Firearms that do meet the 2018 specification and offered for sale or gift must be accompanied by their deactivation certificate (issued by a proof house anywhere within the EU). You can find more information on gov.uk