Crime

Police announce amnesty for owners of Top Venting Blank Firers

Published

11 months ago

February 1, 2025

DYFED-POWYS POLICE is joining forces across the UK in holding a four-week firearms amnesty for Turkish manufactured top-venting blank firers (TVBFs) branded as BLOW, CEONIC ISS, EKOL and RETAY, which are now illegal to possess following testing by the National Crime Agency.

While gun crime in the UK remains lowest in the world, following the concerns raised over these four specific types of TVBFs and their ability to be converted into firearms with the ability to fire live ammunition, The National Police Chiefs’ Council Criminal Use of Firearms Lead, has agreed with Chief Constables that an amnesty will run from Monday 3 February to Friday 28 February 2025, enabling you to safely dispose of your firearm.

Following the amnesty, anyone in possession of any of the four types of Turkish top-venting blank firer (TVBF) could be subject to prosecution and up to 10 years imprisonment.

Inspector Fencott-Price of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Whilst people will have purchased these believing they were legal for their intended use, it is important you are aware of the changes in the law rendering them a prohibited firearm.

We understand that people will have purchased these legally, however they are now no longer to be kept in your possession and we encourage you to take part in this four-week amnesty.

In their legal state, they are designed to discharge only blank cartridges, and are sold with 50 per cent of their visible surface painted in bright colours to help them stand our as non-viable firearms.

Unfortunately, though, they are appealing to criminals and offenders who convert them, changing them from their legal state and since 2021, UK law enforcement, have recovered more than 800 of the guns in criminal circumstances.

We want as many Turkish Top-Venting Blank Firers (TVBF) as possible to be handed in. Individuals or organisations surrendering the firearm during the amnesty period will not be prosecuted for the possession of a prohibited weapon and if you wish you can do so anonymously.

“We encourage anyone who may own the TBVFs to take part in this national amnesty, and hand them in to one of our chosen police stations below before 28 February 2025, to help stop them getting into the wrong hands in the future.”

Our chosen locations for the amnesty are:

Carmarthenshire: Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli Police Stations

Pembrokeshire: Haverfordwest Police Station

Ceredigion: Aberystwyth and Cardigan Police Stations

Powys: Brecon, Llandrindod Wells and Newtown Police Stations

You can visit the stations between the hours of 8am-4pm Monday to Friday. Those who wish to take part in the amnesty are reminded to transport them responsibly.

If you can not travel to one of the locations during the amnesty, you can call us on 101, where we can discuss this with you to ensure you can take part.

If you are ever in doubt, we urge you to make contact with us.

Crime

Milford Haven man denies child sex charges as trial date set

Published

3 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A MAN originally from Milford Haven has pleaded not guilty to a series of sexual offences involving a child after recently moving to Cornwall.

James Kershaw, aged 45, formerly of Milford Haven and now living in Quethiock, Cornwall, appeared in court on Friday (Dec 19), where he denied all four sexual charges put to him.

The hearing was his first Crown Court appearance in the case, during which a trial date was fixed for October 5.

Kershaw was allowed to remain on bail under strict conditions, including that he must have no contact with any prosecution witnesses.

Kershaw appeared via video link from his solicitor’s office in Cornwall. The judge described this as “a very generous decision by the listings officer” and said it had “presumably been arranged due to the distance from you to the court”.

Allegations denied

The charges relate to alleged incidents said to have taken place in Liskeard, Cornwall, between October 26 and November 1, 2023.

Kershaw is accused of engaging in sexual communication with a child under the age of 16 and of causing a child aged 13 to watch sexual activity. He also faces two allegations of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature on separate dates.

In addition, Kershaw is charged with two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed by Derby Crown Court in May 2022. These allegations include the use of an undisclosed Facebook account and the deletion of messages, both of which are said to be prohibited under the terms of that order.

Kershaw denies all allegations.

The court ordered that Kershaw may remain on bail pending trial, subject to conditions including a strict ban on contacting any witnesses.

The complainant’s identity is protected by law under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

The case is due to return to court when the trial begins in October.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in hospital

Published

19 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died in hospital soon after leaving custody at Parc Prison.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, had been serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died in hospital after being at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27).

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody or in hospital shortly after being at prison.

A HMP Parc spokesperson: “Mr Gareth Davies (DOB 12/08/1966) passed away at an outside hospital on 27 November 2025.

“As with all deaths in custody, this will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. The cause of death will be for the coroner to determine.”

No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.