Gun amnesty announced

Media advisory, Monday, November 2, 2015, 11:30 a.m., Toronto Central Grosvenor Street YMCA Centre, 20 Grosvenor Street, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Crime Prevention Week kick-off, Sunday, November 1, 2015 through Sunday, October 7, 2015, Gun amnesty announced

Monday, November 2, 2015 - 4:59 AM
Divisional Policing Support Unit:  416-808-0136

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has designated November 1 to November 7, 2015, as Crime Prevention Week in Ontario. The theme for this year has been established as: “Working Together to Improve Community Safety and Well-Being – A Shared Commitment in Ontario”.

Chief Mark Saunders will join Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police President Niagara Regional Police Service Chief Jeff McGuire for the event.

The Toronto Police Service will be hosting a Crime Prevention Week kick-off event in partnership with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) which will emphasize the innovative and collaborative work achieved between the Toronto Police Service, City of Toronto, local residents and community-based agencies.

This event will be held on Monday, November 2, 2015, at 11:30 a.m., at the Toronto Central Grosvenor Street YMCA Centre, 20 Grosvenor Street.

For further information, please contact Sergeant Donovan Locke, Divisional Policing Support Unit, at 416-808-0136.

The 2015 gun amnesty, which runs from Nov. 2 to Nov. 16, will provide citizens the opportunity to dispose of unwanted firearms safely. The public should call 416-808-2222 to make arrangements for an officer to visit their home. They should never bring a gun to a police facility.

“The intent is to reduce the number of firearms that are not actively being used for sport or hunting” says Chief Mark Saunders. “When a person turns in a gun safely to the police, we will ensure it is safely disposed of to prevent it falling into the wrong hands."

Amnesty coordinator Inspector Chris Boddy says many firearms are passed down to family members unsure of what to do with them.

“People end up in possession of them that don’t understand the rules as far as responsible gun ownership. They often just sit in their homes for years, if not decades, so the amnesty program is an opportunity for them to rid themselves of the burden of gun ownership.”

If you have questions about the firearms amnesty, please contact Inspector Chris Boddy at chris.boddy.torontopolice.on.ca

Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Constable Allyson Douglas-Cook, Corporate Communications, for Sergeant Donovan Locke, Divisional Policing Support Unit