Stock image.
Camera IconStock image. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images/iStockphoto

WA Police release results of Operation Bluesun

Staff WriterMidland Kalamunda Reporter

WA Police has released the results of Operation Bluesun, an operation launched in November to try and reduce the number of illicit firearms on the streets of Perth.

From January 2016 to July 2018 a total of 1317 firearms were reported stolen in WA, including 130 firearms stolen during a burglary at a Beckenham business.

Now police have revealed more than 400 firearms have been seized as a result of their operation.

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Some of the seized weapons. Photo: Cassidy Mosconi/Twitter
Camera IconSome of the seized weapons. Photo: Cassidy Mosconi/Twitter Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Bluesun saw police attend 2710 addresses, resulting in 2493 firearm cabinet inspections.

Some of the other results were:

· 398 firearms, including 28 handguns, and 33,427 rounds of ammunition seized. · 185 owners charged over non-compliance offences. · 41 firearms relinquished. · 26 firearms reported lost or stolen. · 72 owners charged with 320 other offences.

“Bluesun confirmed our belief that the overwhelming majority of licensed firearm owners do the right thing when it comes to safe storage of their weapons,” Regional WA Commander Jo McCabe said.

“Despite our public awareness campaign and our efforts to educate licensed firearm holders a small number of people still declined to correctly store their weapons.

“Those people have been charged but the consequence could have been far worse if their firearm fell into the wrong hands as a result of their poor security practices.”