People carrying guns will not face any legal action if they hand them in this week.

The Metropolitan Police is calling on anyone carrying an illegal gun, imitation weapon, or ammunition to hand it in to their nearest police station as part of a week-long amnesty.

The most recent figures show gun crime in Harrow is up by 60 per cent. Local London Assembly Member Navin Shah described the amnesty as playing a ‘vital’ role in the fight against gun crime.

Figures obtained from the Metropolitan Police show there were 56 gun crimes committed in Harrow in 2016, up from 35 in 2015. Across London, there were 420 more gun crimes in the last year – an increase of 22 per cent.

The #giveupyourgun campaign started at 9am today (Monday, February 6) and will go on until 11pm on Sunday (February 12).

Anyone who hands in firearms as part of the surrender campaign “will not have to give their details to police officers”.

Normally, according to The Firearms Act, anyone who carries, acquires, buys, makes or sells illegal weapons can expect a minimum of five years in prison.

But after evidence of gun use went up 35 per cent last year (226 cases to 305), officers are trying to reach out in a bid to keep the numbers down.

Brent and Harrow Labour London Assembly Member Navin Shah AM said: “It is extremely worrying to see gun crime going up in Harrow and across the capital. Every single incident brings misery to the individuals involved, and to their friends and families.

“I would urge anyone reading this who is in possession of a firearm – or knows someone who is – to hand it in at Harrow Police Station. You won’t have to leave your details, and you’ll help to make our community safer.

“Gun crime is a serious problem in our city, and schemes like this are vital to tackling it.”