Hand in air weapons, urge police

Children were shown BB guns as part of a police campaign

Police have called for air weapons and BB guns to be handed in to make communities safer.

Staffordshire Police said that air weapons used carelessly or thoughtlessly could "kill, seriously injure or disable".

Ch Insp Phil Fortun said the campaign followed the death of a boy of 12 in 2006 and the injury of a girl, three, last year in air weapon incidents.

The force's "hand-in campaign" takes place until the end of April.

'Gun crime rare'

Police said more incidents involving the guns were reported as nights grew lighter and particularly in the school holidays.

Ch Insp Fortun added that carrying or using the weapons could lead to a confrontation by armed police officers.

"People reporting an incident to the police don't know whether it is a real gun, an imitation or an air weapon.

"The most experienced armed officers can find it difficult to tell the difference even at close range," he said.

He added: "Gun-related crime in Staffordshire is rare and when it does happen, we tackle it proactively. "