Rocket Launcher Handed In To Police During Gun Surrender

The rocket launcher was handed in to Hampshire Police (Picture: Hampshire Police).

A rocket launcher and a machine gun were among a number of weapons handed in during a police initiative to take dangerous firearms off the streets. 

The weapons were handed over to Hampshire Police as part of a national two-week gun surrender.

According to one expert, the rocket launcher is an M72 66mm, which was used by the British military until the 1990s as it could no longer compete with modern tank armour. 

Meanwhile, the machine gun is said to be a PPSH-41 - used by Russian forces during the Second World War.

More than 70 firearms were passed on to the force including 31 handguns, 12 shotguns and 24 rifles.

Two starting canons from a sailing club were also given in, as well as BB guns, tasers and ammunition. 

The Firearms and Ammunition Surrender was held to give people the opportunity to hand in any unwanted or illegal firearms to police to be disposed of safely.

Chief Inspector Karen McManus, from Hampshire and Thames Valley Police, said: "There are 80 fewer firearms and imitation firearms on our streets which could have easily fallen into the hands of criminals.

"As a result our neighbourhoods are much safer, both for our residents and for our officers who work every day and night to protect them.

"We are very pleased that so many people took the opportunity to take part in this initiative and the number of firearms recovered certainly proves how valuable such a surrender is."

Other surrendered items included ammunition, deactivated and imitation firearms, BB guns and Tasers.

Meanwhile, Kent Police also received 111 weapons including a deactivated Uzi sub-machine gun, 26 shotguns, two rifles, five revolvers and a pistol.

Merseyside Police also posted an image of a crossbow which was handed in as part of the surrender.