In defence of Stumpy Lubnut -
My Local FLO told me last week that after the official date for handing in or licensing had ended the Herts police gave a few weeks "grace" period to allow people who "did not know" to hand in without any problems.
BUT he also said that now that period is over anyone found with one or even trying to hand the offending weapon in would be "dealt with", What that means i do not know but as stated earlier Ignorance id no defence!
It seems, as with all things police/gun related that the story differs from area to area.
Michael