Children as young as 12 carrying fake guns, say police

Strathclyde police is now advising parents they should not allow children in the street with any kind of gun, no matter how harmless they think it might be.

Youngsters carrying even toy guns could be risking their lives, the force warns.

The dangers were highlighted by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill yesterday as he urged parents to hand over replica weapons or airguns if they found their children with them.

Joining police to raise awareness of the problem, he said: "The age of those possessing and using them is frightening. Not simply for the danger they pose to others but the danger they pose to themselves.

"They face not only the consequences if they use it, but also perhaps being shot by an armed forces officer who has to protect our communities."

Police are concerned that 85% of the guns recovered by firearms specialists are air weapons, and imitation firearms such as BB guns. But they warn parents that even a toy gun used by a child could prove dangerous and should be kept off the streets.

If called to respond to reports of a firearm in a public place, police say armed officers often do not have time to assess whether it is real or not.

Official figures show one in five firearms offences cleared up by police in Scotland involves a youngster under the age of 15. In 2006-07 there were 134 young people under 15 who were involved in firearms offences - almost 30% higher than the previous year.

Historically, the summer months and school holidays have seen the number of reported incidents involving firearms rise further - and police say children as young as 12 have been seen possessing the firearms.

April, May and June this year has seen a 20% increase in all incidents involving a firearm, in Strathclyde. There have been 833 incidents compared to 696 in the first three months in the year. Of this increase, 51 were specifically related to air and replica firearms.

Last year in Strathclyde around 63 young people, aged 15 and under, were involved in firearms offences, either carrying, using or threatening.

Asked if the day of children playing in the streets with toy guns was over, Assistant Chief Constable Jim Green said: "Most parents should realise that if you're buying a kid something and it looks like a firearm and can be misinterpreted as being a firearm, why would you even consider putting that situation out into the street. It seems complete madness.

"I just think we are asking for something to happen that would be just unthinkable and unimaginable in terms of tragedy, so there is really no place for firearms.

"With toy guns, it's very difficult. Some of these toy guns look very real, and at a distance of 25ft or 30ft, or even metres, it might be difficult to tell what's real or what's not. In order to avoid a conflict, just keep them out the public domain."

Mr Green added: "What worries me most is the age of people carrying these weapons. Although mainly young males in their teens, it would appear those involved are getting increasingly younger with reports of schoolchildren carrying weapons in their school bags.

"Disturbingly, figures also show that young girls are now involved, too."

Meanwhile, police forces across Scotland yesterday launched a four-week campaign to crack down on underage drinking and alcohol-fuelled violence.

During the campaign, police are aiming to reduce the amount of alcohol getting into the hands of underage drinkers - where adults knowingly buy alcohol on behalf of under-18s.