A HAUL of 70 deadly air weapons has been taken off Inverclyde streets as part of a national amnesty.

The public were urged to surrender air guns prior to a law change which will make it compulsory to have a licence.

Local police are pleased with the number of weapons handed into Greenock police station since the campaign was launched just over a week ago.

Inspector Julie MacDonald said she was happy with the response and is encouraging more people to hand over weapons before the deadline.

She said: “We are looking for a final push on it and I would encourage people to hand more air guns in.”

The three-week amnesty runs until June 12 and people will be able to register for a licence from July 1.

The Air Weapon and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 will make it illegal to possess air guns without a licence and will come into force on 31 December.

The Scottish Government pledged to introduce the licensing scheme following the tragic death of Glasgow toddler Andrew Morton, who was shot dead by an airgun in 2005.

Constable David Stevenson, firearms inquiry officer for Greenock, said: “We are delighted by the response from the public and the discreet manner in which they are handing the weapons over.

“Some of the weapons couldn’t be differentiated from a real rifle or pistol, they are replicas of the real thing.

“If it’s waved in front of your face with someone demanding the week’s takings you wouldn’t know the difference.

“It is a deadly weapon in the wrong hands.

“Some of them can be quite intimidating and quite frightening and are capable of killing.”

A total of 168 air guns have been handed in from K Division, which includes Inverclyde, Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew.

More than 2,000 air guns were handed over to police stations across Scotland in the first week of the campaign.

Constable Stevenson: “Fortunately we have never had any fatalities from air weapons but there have been injuries in Inverclyde and there have been isolated incidents of windows being struck by pellets and shots fired at livestock and pellets being embedded in swans at Murdieston Dam.

“This campaign will definitely save lives and cut down on injuries.

“We are not targeting people who are using these weapons legally and legitimately, but we are trying to clamp down on people using them indiscriminately with no thought for safety.”