Locals urged to report illegal guns to Crime Stoppers as new campaign kicks off in Mandurah

Locals are being urged to “say something before it’s too late” in a campaign aimed at getting illegal guns off the streets.

Crime Stoppers WA and WA Police kicked off phase 2 of a six-month national illegal firearms campaign in Mandurah on Wednesday.

Phase 1 of the campaign, which ran from July to September last year, encouraged people with an unregistered gun to surrender it without penalty.

Phase 2 of the campaign now encourages people who know any information about an illegal gun to report it confidentially and safely to Crime Stoppers.

From July 1, 2021 to March 1, 2022, a total of 1250 firearms and gun parts were handed in to WA Police along with 35,183 rounds of ammunition.

The haul included 126 hand guns, 245 shot guns and a total of 879 rifles and gun parts.

Crime Stoppers WA CEO Dr Vince Hughes said a range of community engagement and promotional events would be held throughout metropolitan and regional centres of Western Australia, all with a view to encouraging people to share what they know about illegal guns and to safely surrender any they may have in their possession.

“Illegal guns are more likely to be used in crime, more likely to be defective or insecurely stored, and more likely to be involved in accidents,” Dr Hughes said.

“There is no excuse – indeed no legitimate reason – for anyone in Western Australia to have an illegal firearm.”

“Our message today is simple – if you have an illegal firearm, do the right thing; do the right thing by your friends, family and the community – hand it in.”

Dr Hughes said phase 2 of the illegal firearms campaign would encourage families, friends and anybody who may have information to speak up and share what they know with Crime Stoppers “before it’s too late”.

“How would you feel if you had some information about an illegal gun which was then used to harm or kill someone?” he said.

“Criminals often go to great lengths to obtain a firearm illegally and then conceal it from authorities, and it’s unlikely they would go to that effort unless they are prepared to use it.”

WA Police Assistant District Officer for Mandurah Inspector Peter Morrissey is urging anyone in the region to get in contact with Crime Stoppers if they have information about an illegal or unregistered firearm.

“Our objective is to get as many guns off the streets as possible,” Inspector Morrissey said.

“Whether it’s an inherited family heirloom, an old gun left in the back of a shed, received from a family friend, or a firearm legally registered but no longer needed – they all remain a potential risk to community safety.

“We are also urging registered firearm owners to make sure they keep their guns secured in a safe place at home. We have recently had several burglary offences committed in semi-rural areas around Mandurah where firearms have been stolen.

“People need to ensure constant security over their firearms; keep them secured in a safe place; make sure the keys to their gun safe are not easily accessible and, if possible, review their home security – even consider installing CCTV systems and an alarm to cover areas where firearms are stored.”

Visit www.crimestopperswa.com.au or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to report information about an illegal or unregistered firearm.

For further information about how and where to surrender illegal firearms, visit www.crimestoppers.com.au/illegalguns