Crime-ridden LA neighbourhood exchanges 'guns for gifts'

[janbo1960]

The Los Angeles district of Compton in the US is offering to exchange guns for gift vouchers as part of efforts to stamp out violent crime in the neighbourhood, police say.

Police in Compton, ranked the fourth most dangerous district in the US in a recent survey with a murder rate several times above the national average, will offer $US50 gift vouchers for every gun deposited.

The vouchers can be used at designated electrical goods stores, supermarkets and toy shops, organisers of the gun amnesty say.

Police say people taking part in the scheme will have total anonymity.

"The largest challenge to this program is to ensure that the local residents understand that this is a completely anonymous process, where we will ask no questions of the person surrendering the firearm," a police official said.

A similar program last year netted around 400 weapons, police say.

Compton had the worst homicide rate in Los Angeles last year with 67 deaths.

This year has seen a drastic reduction - with 35 reported so far - a decline attributed to aggressive law enforcement practices.