Police officers, from a team targeting organised crime, raided a property in Ardwick, Manchester and recovered four guns and a quantity of ammunition. Ten people, including a teenage boy, were arrested on suspicion possession of a firearm.

A cat had a pellet removed from its leg after being shot with an air rifle in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Following the attack, an RSPCA spokesperson said, “From the reports we receive, we know there are people out there who deliberately target wildlife, pets and farm animals with guns, as well as catapults and crossbows. The consequences of weapons being used on animals are devastating, with severe injuries often leading to death. What we hear about is probably only the tip of the iceberg as not all cases will be reported to us and there may be situations where animals injured and killed by these weapons are sadly never found - especially in the case of wildlife. We continue to call for stricter regulations around owning an airgun in both England and Wales. Better education, basic safety training for owners and a thorough explanation of the law could help protect countless animals from these horrible attacks in the future. Anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can face up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.”

After stopping a car at a service station near Charnock Richard, Lancashire, police officers recovered a blank-firing pistol and £7000 from the vehicle. Two men were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and possession of a firearm.

Cameron Lewis, aged 28, has been sentenced to eight months in prison after being found guilty of possessing an imitation firearm, with a concurrent term of 36 weeks for assaulting a person causing actual bodily harm. Lewis was arrested in August 2023 after he assaulted a man in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, stealing his mobile phone and cash, and slashing his trousers with a knife. After a woman intervened, both parties were assaulted. Police officers subsequently searched an address in connection with the incident and recovered an imitation firearm.

Police are investigating after the windscreen of a car was damaged by a suspected pellet gun in West Lynn, Norfolk. Click on media link to read full report.

After a man was arrested for allegedly disturbing a badger sett, police officers recovered a firearm while searching properties in Caernarfon and Llanllyfni, Gwynedd. Two dogs were also surrendered to the RSPCA.

Officers from the Serious Youth Gang Wiltshire Violence Team searched a property in Swindon, Wiltshire and recovered a gun and a large quantity of drugs. A teenage boy, arrested at the scene, was later charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.

Armed police officers supported a planned operation at a property in Clacton, Essex, where a man was arrested on suspicion of firearm possession and drug possession offences. Click on media link to read full report.

Following information from the public, police officers searched two properties in Birmingham, West Midlands and recovered weapons including a gun. A man has since been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possession of a firearm.

Paul Amoah, Lee Mitchell and Gavin Smale have been jailed for twenty-seven years, nine years and seven years, respectively, for their involvement in a violent robbery. In July 2023, the three men broke into a house in Redruth, Cornwall, before Amoah used a Beretta handgun to shoot a male occupant in the back as he tried to flee. Mitchell hit another man over the head with a hammer while Smale kept watch. The trio fled after stealing cash and a passport. The shooting victim suffered serious injuries and required several operations. Amoah, 39, was found guilty of attempted murder, wounding with intent and aggravated burglary; Mitchell, 28, was found guilty of the latter two offences, while Smale, 44, was found guilty of unlawful wounding and aggravated burglary.