STUN GUNS, pistols and shotguns - that's the alarming haul of lethal weaponry taken off the streets of Hampshire as part of a crackdown by police on gun crime.

More than 15 firearms were seized from a dozen addresses across the county as part of Operation Bembridge.

The addresses were targeted from intelligence gathered about where the weapons were being bought, primarily over the Internet.

In total, 12 handguns, three long-barrelled guns, one stun gun, more than 500 rounds of blank ammunition, and three offensive weapons were seized during the operation.

Addresses targeted included two in Southampton, and one each in Fareham, Sarisbury Green and Winchester, together with others in the north of the county.

Armed police officers from Hampshire's tactical firearms unit along with force intelligent experts led the raids that are being hailed as a success by police chiefs.

No one has been arrested or charged as a result of the raids.

Chief Insp Richard Burrows said: "This is the climax of a long-term intelligence-led operation where we have identified weaponry purchased over the Internet.

"It is an offence to possess weapons such as handguns, stun guns or CS spray, even if they have been acquired from abroad.

"Any weapon in the hands of untrained individuals, or indeed criminals, is dangerous and those in possession of prohibited weapons need to know that we are on to them.

"If you have bought weapons over the Internet you risk being arrested, charged and convicted."

Gun crime in England and Wales is on the increase, rising by three per cent according to Home Office figures.

That is reflected in Hampshire where 58 crimes involving guns took place between 2001 and 2002. A year later that figure had risen to 97.

Almost £5m has also been spent on kitting out every police officer with body armour across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The move was widely seen as a response to the increase in violent crime recorded across the two counties.

Despite the figures, police insist that Hampshire remains a relatively safe place to live.

"Gun crime is incredibly low but we are not complacent - we will do everything we can to fight gun crime and seizing illegal weapons is part of that fight," added Chief Insp Burrows,

"I am delighted with the success of the operation and the numbers of firearms, ammunition and weapons that have been taken off the streets of the two counties."

The latest Home Office figures show firearms-related deaths are comparatively rare.

From 2003 to 2004 the number fell to 81 from 97 in the previous 12 months.

The rises in gun crime for the last two years compare with a 34 per cent increase recorded in 2002.

In 2003, the Home Office introduced a mandatory five-year minimum prison sentence for anyone caught in possession of an illegal firearm.