Converted Handguns Surpass 'Real' Weapons in Number of Incidents in UK Crimes

UK crime reports indicate that modified handguns, initially made to shoot blanks, are now used in more incidents than traditional firearms.

In 2023, police recorded 64 instances of modified guns being fired, surpassing the 42 incidents involving authentic guns, with four fatalities and 17 severe injuries linked to the modified weapons. A top government ballistics expert identifies this as a major security concern.

The use of modified sub-machine guns was recorded in seven cases, according to provisional data from the National Police Chiefs' Council provided after a BBC investigation.

Blank-firing guns, intended for theatrical or athletics events, produce noise and flashes without shooting actual bullets. However, their resemblance to real firearms, sometimes including actual weapon parts, affords criminals nearly everything they need to convert them into functioning guns.

The UK has banned "forward-venting" guns, which are easier to convert and resemble real firearms, while "top-venting" and "side-venting" models remain legal for those over 18. Despite this, criminal modifications of blank-firing guns are on the rise.

A BBC purchase of a top-venting blank gun for under £100, with only age verification required, revealed the ease of conversion. A former criminal confirmed the simplicity of turning such weapons into live guns within minutes using common tools.

West Midlands Police seized 45 identical blank guns in 2021, which were being made into lethal weapons by criminals.

Despite legitimate uses for blank guns like bird scaring in agriculture, some experts are skeptical and argue for banning guns that serve no real purpose and that can be converted into deadly weapons.

The Home Office states it is actively taking steps to block the illegal conversion of blank guns and continuously reviews firearm regulations against emerging threats.