Firearms-related offences in the region dropped by five per cent to 2,161 over the year to the end of March 2003.
But the police acknowledged that the amnesty was not the solution to gun crime. A police spokesman said: "A small part of the community is prepared to carry and use guns. This is predominantly young men.
"We are determined to stop them, and one way is to help children and young people understand the misery that guns cause, so they can make a sensible decision about firearms.
"We recognise that a change of attitude and the community saying no to guns are also vitally important."
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