AIR GUN HAND IN AT LICHFIELD VILLAGES
| Published: 20th April 2008 19:56 |
PEOPLE are being urged to hand-in air weapons, BB and imitation guns when a mobile police station visits Alrewas and Fradley villages near Lichfield.
The mobile station is going to be in Main Street, Alrewas from around 10am on the morning of Saturday, 26 April.
Later in the day, police will be staffing the station when it moves to Fradley community centre between 1.30pm and 4pm.
Officers, including PC Lesley Kimberley and PCSO David Ramm, will be on hand to receive any air weapons and offer advice on any local concerns.
The visits are part of Staffordshire Police's three-month ‘No Butts - hand them in' campaign, being run to raise awareness of the dangers of air weapons and reduce anti-social behaviour.
Trends show that as nights grow lighter, and particularly during school holidays, there is a higher incidence of young people causing problems in neighbourhoods by taking pot shots with air weapons and BB guns.
Chief Inspector Phil Fortun, of Trent Valley division and No Butts Campaign co-ordinator, said: "We cannot over-emphasise how dangerous air weapons can be. They are not toys and people have died or been seriously injured as a result of their misuse.
"Our campaign will hopefully bring the message home to parents and relatives who have bought, or allow young people to use these weapons without proper supervision, that they are putting their children's lives in danger."
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy or own an air weapon.
People who phone the police to report incidents often do not know whether a real gun is involved, or whether it is an air, BB or imitation weapon.
"With the potential of someone being in imminent danger, appropriate action has to be taken and that can mean deploying armed response officers," Ch Insp Fortun added.
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