POLICE have seized firearms and what they claim is a large amount of ammunition in a raid on a home near Nundle, out of Tamworth.
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Oxley police used a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) to search the property on Barry Road at Hanging Rock on Thursday morning.
During the search, officers seized three firearms which they claim were unsecured at the property plus a large amount of ammunition.
Oxley Detective Acting Inspector Jason Darcy said investigations were continuing but charges were expected.
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Under the order - which has to be granted by the NSW Police Commissioner - police have the power to search the person or the property at random, without a warrant.
In April, a similar order was slapped on a man in Pilliga after police applied for and were granted the FPO.
"Police will use the power of the firearms prohibition order to seize any firearms we suspect could be in the hands of these people," Detective Darcy said.
During that firearms search, police also seized drugs.
The order prohibits the target from using or possessing a firearm, gun parts or ammunition "on the basis that it is not in the public interest to do so".
"Our aim is to get these guns off the streets, get them before they fall into the wrong hands," he said.
Detective Darcy said the extraordinary power would be one police would use where they could to stamp out illegal activity and prevent gun crime.
"We won't tolerate that sort of illegal activity in our district," he said.
"We have seen incidents where firearms have been stolen in break and enters to farms, to homes and properties and we will use those powers where we can.
"It doesn't matter whether the targets live in Yarrie Lake, out at Narrabri, Moonbi, Tamworth or Gunnedah, we have reports of firearm thefts and illegal activity and we will use any available resource to put a stop to it.
"Police are out there actively stamping out crime and removing this element from communities and we won't stop. The more the community can tell us and talk to us, the more we can move on this sort of behaviour."
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
