Dillon: No gun amnesty

While noting that data from last January to March showed a marginal increase in the number of crimes committed with illegal guns, Dillon said the number of illegal guns seized by the police increased from 691 in 2015 to 765 last year.

He also said there was a 119 percent increase in the amount of ammunition seized from 2015 to 2016. The minister said 19,542 rounds of ammunition was seized last year compared to 8,943 rounds in 2015. Dillon identified increased search and stop exercises, increased surveillance of known offenders and intensified maritime and aerial surveillance by law enforcement agencies as some of the methods being used to confiscate illegal guns.

On another issue, Dillon said the Police Service continues to intensify its efforts to curb incidents of sexual assault against women. Comparing data over the last seven years, Dillon said 2016 recorded the lowest number of such incidents with a figure of 494. He also said a task force has been created regarding the establishment of a border security protection agency.