AIR GUN HAND IN ARRIVES AT LICHFIELD VILLAGES
| Published: 19th March 2008 21:24 |
MOBILE police stations are touring villages near Lichfield and Tamworth to enable people to hand-in air weapons, BB and imitation guns.
The station is going to be at Shenstone, Armitage and Fazeley villages over the next couple of week.
It is 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 that disrupts our communities.
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.
Ch Insp 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.
Details of where the mobile police stations will be during the campaign can be found at www.staffordshire.police.uk.
To hand in a weapon, visit any of these village locations:
• Saturday 22 March: Shenstone, Main Street between 10am and 4.00pm.
• Friday 28 March: Armitage village Hall, Shropshire Brook Road, 10am - 3.30pm.
• Saturday 12 April: Fazeley Town Hall between 10am and 4.00pm.
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