The Olympic .380 BBM Revolver

Note: Please, read this update, regarding the the Olympic .380 BBM Revolver (24th February 2011)

The Olympic .380 BBM blank firing imitation firearm, commonly used as a starting pistol or for dog training, is now a prohibited weapon under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. The classification of this brightly coloured revolver comes as a result of evidence received from a Senior Forensic Scientist, within the Forensic Science Service (FSS), who has identified the Olympic .380 BBM as being ‘readily convertible’ under the provisions of the Firearms Act 1982. Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1982 classifies weapons as ‘readily convertible,’ thus making them subject to Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1982, Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 and in this case Section 5 of the 1968 Act. This makes them illegal to possess, supply or transfer within the UK.

The classification of the Olympic .380 BBM is part of a programme of activity initiated after a disproportionate number of these revolvers were recovered by police in their converted form. Over 150 Olympic .380 BBM’s have been recovered by police forces. The majority of the revolvers recovered have been in London, however, they have also been recovered in their converted state by Greater Manchester Police and Avon and Somerset Police. Offences committed using these types of weapon range from Attempted Murder to Robbery.

A Targeted Amnesty

A targeted amnesty, aimed only at Olympic .380 BBM’s, will run from 16 April until 4 June 2010 and has been co-ordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers, Criminal Use of Firearms portfolio (ACPO CUF). The primary role of ACPO CUF is to reduce the threat and harm caused by firearms crime, and to reduce the fear of crime through coordinated development of an effective national multi-agency strategy towards firearms crime.

The amnesty has been co-ordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers, Criminal Use of Firearms portfolio (ACPO CUF) as part of the National Ballistics Intelligence Service’s (NABIS) Knowledge and Communications Unit. The amnesty, which will run until 4 June 2010, is targeted solely at Olympic .380 BBM revolvers and will allow people to hand in these revolvers in either their unconverted or converted form. Any other firearms handed in during the amnesty period will not be subject to the amnesty. This means that individuals who are in possession of weapons outside of the amnesty will be subject to the law and will risk being arrested for any offences they may have committed. Anyone who does not hand in their Olympic .380 BBM during the amnesty could be liable to prosecution, for which there is a five year mandatory prison sentence.

The Olympic .380 BBM could be purchased through Registered Firearms Dealers (RFD’s) and other outlets such as hobbyist stores or model shops and previously required no licence. It is thought that a large number of individuals currently possess this revolver in their capacity as a wholesaler, retailer or owner and made their acquisition perfectly legally before the recent assessment that it was ‘readily convertible.’

Following the identification of this revolver as ‘readily convertible,’ the police service have a duty to take action and recover these revolvers from circulation in the UK. We also have a duty to protect legitimate owners of this revolver from prosecution, which is why they have the opportunity, during the amnesty, to hand in their Olympic .380 BBM.

The amnesty involves all 43 police forces in England and Wales. Police forces have been supplied with information about the Olympic .380 BBM and how to manage the amnesty in terms of safety to the public and those who bring these guns into police stations to hand them in.

Support from the Gun Trade

The British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC) the British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Gun Trade Association (GTA) are supportive of this action to remove the revolver from circulation in the UK. In addition, in conjunction with the trade, ACPO CUF has been working with Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and UK Trade and Industry in order to cease the importation of Olympic .380 BBM revolvers. As of 24 March 2010 importation of these revolvers into the UK ceased.

ACPO CUF, the BSSC, BASC and GTA are conscious that many members of the public have purchased this revolver for well established legitimate uses, but the actions of a criminal minority have undermined the lawful use of this revolver, by converting them illegally and using them in their criminal activity. It is not the intention to prosecute anyone in possession of this revolver who acquired it perfectly legally, but it must now be removed from public circulation. It is however essential that those members are not unfairly disadvantaged by the small number of individuals that are prepared to convert and use firearms illegally.

The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS)

Any Olympic .380 BBM’s recovered by the police will be recorded on the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) database and will be subject to evaluation before destruction. NABIS provides the Police forces of England Wales and other law enforcement agencies with an effective service allowing the submission of ballistic material to one of the NABIS Regional hub facilities. NABIS is then able link ballistic items to previous crimes and incidents within 48 hours. NABIS has three areas of focused delivery, Forensic Services, Intelligence and Knowledge. These three areas come together to ensure a comprehensive approach to tackling gun crime.

Anyone with information about firearms incidents or information about those who possess or have access to illegal firearms should contact their local police or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.