Simplified State Arms Surrender Operation

Updated on 11/18/2022

Useful information

From November 25 to December 2, 2022the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas are organizing a Simplified State Arms Surrender Operationmanaged by the Central Service for Arms and Explosives (SCAE).

If France has nearly 5 million legal gun owners, it is estimated that at least 2 million of our fellow citizens hold guns without title, mainly for hunting or issues from the First and Second World Wars.

Most of these weapons illegally held on the national territory were acquired by inheritance, most often without knowing the legal framework of possession. Through this operation, the State wishes to offer these holders in good faith the possibility of simply disposing of them or keeping them legally.

The operation of simplified abandonment of weapons to the State will be available throughout mainland France and in certain overseas territories.

In the department of Pas-de-Calais, several collection sites (detailed in the appendix) will be set up to allow you to return weapons that you wish to part with.

Find all the collection sites on the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas: https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/actualites/actu-du-ministere/armes-heritees-et-trouvees-bon-moment-pour-se-decider

These restitutions of weapons and ammunition are done without administrative formalities, with the police and gendarmes present on the dedicated sites. If you also wish to keep, agents from the prefecture will be present to help you register your weapons in the information system on weapons (SIA). If you are unable to travel, you could make an appointment via the 03 61 47 34 05 for collection at your home.

If you have an explosive device such as a grenade, shell, pyrotechnic device or ammunition, do not go to a collection site with these items, under penalty of immobilization of your vehicle until the intervention of the demining service. In this case, it is advisable to contact the prefecture on 03 61 47 34 06, which organizes the removal of this ammunition from your home by the mine clearance service.

Annex : list of collection sites in Pas-de-Calais

For the district of Arras
Arras police station
18 Liberty Boulevard
62000 Arras

For the districts of Béthune and Lens
Police station of Lens
2, rue Louis Delluc
62300 Lens

For the districts of Boulogne-sur-Mer and Calais
Marquise Gendarmerie Brigade
Avenue Ferber
62250 Marquise

For the district of Montreuil
Gendarmerie company of stables
567 Paris Street
62170 Stables

For the district of Saint-Omer
Police station of Saint-Omer
18, rue des Pipers
62500 Saint-Omer