Firearms worry police

Great Southern police say a concerning number of firearms are still in the hands of criminals because of the region’s firearm holders failing to secure their weapons properly, putting officers and the community at risk.

A three-week operation involving random inspections by police of more than 400 gun cabinets resulted in officers seizing 46 firearms, while a further 107 guns were voluntarily handed in.

Great Southern District’s Inspector Dave Bryson said a concerning spate of burglaries in a three-month period last year resulted in 73 firearms, including high-powered rifles and handguns, being stolen and only 10 had been recovered.

Insp. Bryson said an example of concerning criminal activity was a shooting at Crossman last year when an officer was allegedly shot at by a man with a sawn- off shotgun.

“So there are 60-plus firearms out in the community between here and Perth that will be used in crime, there is no doubt about that,” Insp. Bryson said.

Before the inspections, more than 10,000 of the Great Southern’s 16,483 licensed firearm holders received letters notifying them that inspections were to be conducted at random.

Insp. Bryson said rural property owners had become the target of burglaries and most of the feedback police had received had been positive.

Regional WA Commander Murray Smalpage said illicit firearms were a priority issue for WA police and it was likely that Operation Celebrity would be repeated in other parts of the State.

“Gun owners who meet their responsibilities have nothing to be concerned about, but there will be prosecutions from the Great Southern operation and licensed firearm holders need to keep in mind there is a fine of up to $2000 for a first offence and potential imprisonment for subsequent offences,” he said.

“This has been a very successful and diligent operation by police in the Great Southern and their work has resulted in the community being safer, which deserves recognition.”

A permanent amnesty remains in place for unlicensed firearms, meaning police will accept all firearms, ammunition and accessories as long as a firearm has not been used to commit an offence and not recorded as lost or stolen.