Replica guns destroyed

5:43pm Tuesday 2nd October 2007

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TOY sellers could now face a year in prison for selling a water pistol.

Changes in regulation mean it is now illegal for traders to sell any kind of replica gun, either decommissioned, toy or capable of firing ball bearings, that could be mistaken for a real one.

As part of the clamp down, Ealing Trading Standards officers took 700 replica guns, worth thousands of pounds, from one importer.

The two van loads of fake weapons, including pistols, shotguns and AK47 style automatic weapons, will be destroyed in line with the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Realistic Imitation Firearms) Regulations 2007.

Boota Samra, a senior trading standards officer for the council, said: "It doesn't matter whether it is a BB gun or a child's toy if it does not comply with the regulations.

"At the moment there are still some grey areas in the legislation, and we have advised shopkeepers to keep these toys off sale for a few weeks until we see how enforcement can be carried out.

"There are some exceptions to the rules, which include weapons which are bright blue, red, orange, green, yellow, purple or translucent or anything smaller than 38mm in height by 78mm in length, like the replica cigarette lighters."

People found selling these products could get 51 weeks in prison or a £5,000 fine, while people found in a public place with one could are liable to six months or a £5,000 fine.

Ealing Police's acting borough commander, Julian Worker, said: "Even trained police officers have great difficulty distinguishing these guns from actual firearms, and will always act as if they are real.

"There is a potential risk of an offender being shot by armed response officers who are unable to establish the exact nature of the weapon."