"For every gun we take off the streets in Bradford and Keighley it could make the difference between someone being seriously hurt or killed.”

Detective Inspector Ian Bryar, of Bradford Police, speaks of the rewards in removing firearms from circulation – something the West Yorkshire force is dedicated to achieving. “It is a shock in any community when there is a firearms incident – it can have fatal consequences and damage lives forever,” he says.

Heading the district’s Quartz team, which focuses on gun and drug crime, he describes the relentless efforts being made by the police and other agencies to rid the area of guns.

They are making a difference. In the year up to April 30 there were 23 incidents in which firearms were discharged – a reduction of 33 per cent on the previous year. This is reflected across West Yorkshire as a whole, where the reported use of guns also fell by a third.

“This is due to the work not only of Quartz, but to the police and Neighbourhood Policing Teams in general, and what goes on behind the scenes,” says Det Insp Bryar. “It is also down to sharing information – working together with other bodies including the education authority, probation service, offender management team, health authority and housing services. That information is used to reduce the risk across the district. We also share intelligence with other law enforcement agencies.”

That risk, however small – and, he stresses, it is a minority who are in possession of illegal firearms – can be further reduced by help from the public.

“We work extensively with local communities who help us to remove guns from the streets. We act on intelligence passed on to us – it could be from anonymous calls or tip-offs.”

He adds: “We are in a pretty good place at the moment and we want to keep the momentum going. We want to push forward with an extra plea to people to pass on any information that they think may help and, of course, this will be treated in confidence.”

Much information is generated from the force’s own intelligence, and firearms are sometimes found unexpectedly. “You can search a house for an unrelated offence and find guns – we’ve discovered them in lofts, sheds and on wasteland,” he explains.

“Members of the public have come across firearms in undergrowth while gardening, and it is clear that they have been there for some time.” Such finds include shotguns, hand guns and ammunition.

Det Insp Bryar reiterates the need for people to pass on information. “Gun crime is a very serious offence and will result in prison.

“Some people believe that storing illegal firearms for someone else is not going to impact upon them,” he says, “They naively believe that they will not be prosecuted, but it will be dealt with just as seriously.”

Education is proving a key component in the war on guns. In the last six months, PC Rory Romani, of the police operational support unit, has visited 12 secondary schools to talk about the dangers posed by illegal firearms.

“This year, through Neighbourhood Policing Teams, we are going to start pushing home the impact that guns can have and urge people in the community to come forward and contact the NPT or local Police Community Support Officer.

He says: “In reality it is a minority, but when an incident occurs it becomes high profile. It is also the case that the majority of incidents involves firearms used to cause damage. Fatalities and injuries are rare.”

Successes are regularly reported. Last month, nine arrests were made and four guns seized as part of a major blitz on drugs and guns, and in February two men were jailed after an arsenal of sawn-off shotguns and ammunition was found at a makeshift drugs factory raided by police. Both formed part of ongoing Operation Sabredale, which targets guns and drugs.

Det Insp Bryar refers to a recent case in which three guns were removed from one location. “They were guns that had the potential to kill someone. Removing them gave us great satisfaction – a reward for hard work.”

Confiscated weapons are forensically examined. Some are required as evidence in courts cases, and eventually destroyed.

Investigations have revealed a clear link between organised crime and the possession of guns.

This year sees continued efforts to raise awareness. “We are driving it forward through the media and local communities to reinforce the message on the impact guns have.

“There are people out there who know who has access to firearms and we encourage them to contact us.”

To contact the Quartz team, call (01274) 474711 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.