A POLICE gun amnesty is entering its second week with a hard-hitting message for anyone with an unlicensed firearm.

West Midlands Police is warning people who ignore the amnesty and hang on to shooters are running the risk of a lengthy jail term.

The two-week campaign began on November 13, in the Black Country during the first week shotgun ammunition and an air rifle were surrendered at Brierley Hill police station.

Detective inspector Rod Rose, from Force CID, said: "We’re continuing to urge anyone with information on the whereabouts of firearms to support the surrender.

"Our message to those we know are entrenched in gang culture is clear; hand in your weapons and get help to leave a life of crime.

"We’re also reminding those who have information about people who may be involved in gun crime that the laws on illegal firearms have recently been toughened up and anyone found in possession of a gun can now be jailed for five years.

"Past experience tells us there will be people in the West Midlands who, out of misguided loyalty, are storing guns for partners, relatives or friends.

“They are risking life behind bars, even if they have no intention of using the gun themselves; they need to contact us during the window of this surrender before it’s too late.”

Cops hope people will use the amnesty to hand in unused shotguns or antique firearms - often World War relics gathering dust in loft spaces.

These weapons could be put to deadly use if they fall into the hands of criminals, police are also urging crooks who use guns to think hard about going straight.

DI Rose added: "We know that some criminals make definitive choices and actively pursue a life of crime. Others just make bad choices. They fall into crime by dropping out of education, mixing with the wrong crowd, becoming addicting to drink or drugs and so on.

"Many of these people don’t actually want to be living in constant fear of being arrested or always looking over their shoulder to see if a rival is seeking retribution.”

Weapons can be surrendered at any West Midlands Police station or by calling the force on 101 and arranging for officers to make home visits.