Uncollected firearm licences ‘gathering dust’ at Pretoria police station

Silverton police have urged members of the public who have applied for firearm licences to come and collect them, reports Pretoria East Rekord.

The station was sitting with about 500 uncollected firearm licences, according to police spokesperson Captain Jan Sepato.

Sepato said this could mean some firearm owners may be operating without licences.

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“Some licences have been here for nearly two years without their owners coming to collect them.

“Some people had applied for renewals. This might mean their current licences have expired and are therefore invalid,” he said.

He added that operating a firearm without a licence was a serious offence.

He said the station had notified applicants by SMS and post, but very few had come to collect them.

Anyone found with an unlicensed firearm may face three to five years in prison, Sepato said.

“They will be charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm.

“If people have since relocated, or for whatever reason are too far from the police station, they can contact the Silverton firearm unit on 012-845-4006 or 012-845-4010,” he said.

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