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How 'toys' put lives at risk
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| Plastic peril - PC Mark Sawyer says some toy guns are hard to distinguish from real firearms |
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WHEN two boys were spotted with a suspected firearm, concerned residents immediately called police. What followed was a huge armed response costing thousands.
It turned out to be two youngsters from Shoebury playing with a BB gun in Southchurch Avenue, Southend.
But who was to know that? Faced with a gun, most people wouldn't stop to question if it is real or imitation and would dial 999.
Despite this, more and more teenagers and adults are buying replica guns, without realising the potential consequences.
In the incident in Southchurch Road, the "weapon" turned out to be a BB gun, but from a distance it was difficult to tell the difference.
Essex Police are obliged to send a armed officers in response to any such reports, in case the gun is real.
The boys were arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place and have been bailed until May 24.
But this is just one of a number of recent incidents and has led to worried police officers reminding parents of the potential dangers.
PC Mark Sawyer, a schools liaison officer based at Westcliff police station, said: "Young people often don't think fully of the possible consequences of their actions. On the face of it they might seem quite harmless, but in the wrong hands it can be quite a dangerous weapon."
In March this year, a pupil was expelled from Chase High School, Westcliff, after firing a yellow plastic pellet from a BB gun into the face of a girl in the playground.
The boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place but was eventually released by police with a formal caution.
The red plastic BB gun cost just £3.99 from a gift shop in Pier Hill, Southend.
At the time, the boy's mother said: "He asked me if he could buy a BB gun and I said no. He went behind my back and bought it.
"They sell these guns in a shop to eight-year-olds and over. Maybe toys like this shouldn't be sold to children if they can't take them anywhere."
PC Sawyer said it was not an offence to sell a BB gun, as long as there is some colour on it, to make it look like a toy.
"If it is a plain black gun, that is treated as an imitation firearm," he added.
"People buy the guns in good faith as toys, but if a member of the public sees them it's very hard for them to make a judgment call.
"They have to call the police and we have to send an armed response unit in case the threat of danger is real."
PC Sawyer said he had spoken to children under ten with BB guns.
He added: "Young people and their parents just need to be aware of the potential harm they can cause, not just physical harm but the emotional harm to unassuming members of the public, particularly older people."
BB guns or airsoft guns are low-powered airguns which fire plastic pellets or balls.
The 2003 Antisocial Behaviour Act made it an arrestable offence to carry a BB gun in public.
My son nearly lost an eye
THE dangers surrounding BB guns are demonstrated by two recent incidents in Southend.
Mykee Bowers, 14, was playing with friends at home in Kilworth Avenue, Southend, last November, when a stray BB pellet ricocheted off a wall and went into his right eye.
He had to spend four days in Southend Hospital as doctors drained the blood out of it before assessing the damage.
As a result, his mum Sandie Madden, 41, is keen to expose the dangers of BB guns.
She said: "I think BB guns should be banned, just like any normal guns or weapons.
"I would say to parents, don't give in to your children and buy these guns and if you do, make sure they wear protective goggles."
She said Mykee had recovered well since the incident: "His eye's OK now. He's not going to be blind.
"He only has one more hospital appointment in October and that should be the last one."
In January this year, Lawrence Corcoran, 33, of Richmond Avenue, Westcliff, was hauled before magistrates after he pretended to shoot friends and passing motorists with a toy gun, while dressed as Rambo.
Armed police shut the road and he was charged with causing harassment, alarm or distress.
He pleaded guilty and was given 80 hours community work and ordered to pay £60 costs
After the court case, Corcoran said: "Police will respond with armed units for someone having a water pistol or fake gun when they are just having a laugh. If you are carrying a toy gun there is a real danger people will think it's real.
"Shops need to stop selling them and people should think twice about buying them."
10:34pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: chill out, Benfleet on 5:25pm Wed 14 May 08
So it's not illeagal for shops to sell these toys. But it is illegal to carry them in public. So how do they think they get from the shop to the home?
So it's not illeagal for shops to sell these toys. But it is illegal to carry them in public. So how do they think they get from the shop to the home?
Posted by: Grassboots on 8:39am Sun 8 Jun 08
Perhaps its time to stop calling the police everytime you think every little kid might be carrying a "firearm".
Perhaps its time to stop calling the police everytime you think every little kid might be carrying a "firearm".
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