Exactly one week after persons holding illegal firearms and ammunition were encouraged to hand in their weapons and ammunition, today one person, maybe the first, took advantage of the one month gun amnesty programme. 7NEWS visited one of the programme’s depository locations where we spoke with CYDP’s Director Superintendent of police Edward Broaster who was pleased with the hand-in and also grateful for the donation of bicycles.
Supt. Edward Broaster, CYDP Director
“Yes this is the first batch of ammunition that have been turned over to CYDP and that is a clear indication that the message is out there and young people are aware of the message. It was handed in by one individual. It is 50
rounds of AK-47 ammunition and we grateful for the young person who turned in these ammunition and we are hoping we can encourage other young persons to come forward and turn in the firearm or ammunition that may possess illegally so they would not have to end up facing jail time after the amnesty is over.
At this time what we do is we go out and we engage the community. We engage those persons who we consider of interest and hence the reason why we would like to thank Mr. Johnson from Ving Fa for the donation of these five bicycles that we have here because what this allows us to do is to go out and engage young persons on a more personal level. When we engage with young persons and persons of interest out there in the community we tend to have a more effective communication and as well breakthrough to them and cooperation with them as well.”
The gun amnesty programme concludes on October thirty First. So you still have time to freely hand in your illegal weapons and ammunition. The programme is one initiative by the Crimes Control Council to address the problem of gun violence.
