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MargaretR · 06-08-2008, 10:26

Police Campaigns
extract-

Imitation Guns including BB Guns

Since April 2004 it has been illegal to carry an imitation gun in public and police have been making the consequences clear.

Even trained police officers have great difficulty distinguishing these guns from actual firearms and have to act as if they are real. There is a real risk of an offender being shot by armed response officers who are unable to establish the exact nature of the weapon. The fear felt by members of the public on being confronted with an imitation gun can be just as great. Valuable time and resources are being used up when armed response teams have to be sent to incidents involving fake guns.

Forces around the country have been issuing warnings about the dangers of carrying imitation guns in public and asked parents not to give children guns as presents at Christmas. Some did this through press releases and articles in local newspapers, some have taken their message a step further and initiated poster campaigns and written to parents and carers. Derbyshire Police were among the first to do so in 2003, followed by Bedfordshire Police in 2004. Gun Control Network fully supports these high profile campaigns.

Greater Manchester Police

March 2008

Police are urging imitation gun and airgun owners to hand them in at a police station during March. Greater Manchester Police and Trading Standards will also be targeting dealers illegally selling realistic imitation firearms and air weapons (Rochdale Online, 28 February 2008).

06-08-2008, 10:26	#20
MargaretR God Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: c l m Posts: 12,362 Blog Entries: 4 Liked: 518 times Rep Power: 68670	Re: cat assassin in clayton area Police Campaigns extract- Imitation Guns including BB Guns Since April 2004 it has been illegal to carry an imitation gun in public and police have been making the consequences clear. Even trained police officers have great difficulty distinguishing these guns from actual firearms and have to act as if they are real. There is a real risk of an offender being shot by armed response officers who are unable to establish the exact nature of the weapon. The fear felt by members of the public on being confronted with an imitation gun can be just as great. Valuable time and resources are being used up when armed response teams have to be sent to incidents involving fake guns. Forces around the country have been issuing warnings about the dangers of carrying imitation guns in public and asked parents not to give children guns as presents at Christmas. Some did this through press releases and articles in local newspapers, some have taken their message a step further and initiated poster campaigns and written to parents and carers. Derbyshire Police were among the first to do so in 2003, followed by Bedfordshire Police in 2004. Gun Control Network fully supports these high profile campaigns. Greater Manchester Police March 2008 Police are urging imitation gun and airgun owners to hand them in at a police station during March. Greater Manchester Police and Trading Standards will also be targeting dealers illegally selling realistic imitation firearms and air weapons (Rochdale Online, 28 February 2008). __________________ Last edited by MargaretR; 06-08-2008 at 10:30.