GUN enthusiasts could find themselves on the wrong side of the law if they are seen touting a replica firearm in public.

West Mercia police has welcomed new legislation introduced this week which makes it an offence to carry an airgun or such a firearm on the streets or in a public place "without reasonable excuse".

The legislation also raises the age at which a person may have an air weapon or ammunition with them from 14 to 17.

Anyone aged 14 to 16 must be supervised by a person over 21 or be using it as part of an approved shooting club or shooting gallery.

"The police service warmly welcomes these new measures in the face of growing problems and dangers to the public caused by the misuse of airguns and replica weapons," said Chief Insp Alan Baldwin, of West Mercia police operations department.

Escalation

"We are particularly concerned by the increasing use of air weapons with self contained gas cartridge systems by criminals, because of the ease with which they can be converted to fire live ammunition."

He said that nationally there had been an escalation in criminal damage and nuisance caused by the misuse of air weapons, often involving young people, and added that there was also an increasing tendency for imitation firearms to be used to intimidate others.

"The police are particularly concerned by the fact that young people carrying weapons of this kind are placing themselves in considerable danger.

"We have to treat any report of a person carrying a gun in public seriously and inevitably armed police officers will be called to the scene.

"In view of the extreme difficulties in identifying whether a weapon is genuine or imitation, if police officers or members of the public are threatened with a gun, and if that individual fails to respond to a challenge or instruction, then he or she could be shot.

"Fortunately, incidents of this kind are extremely rare, but anything that can be done to reduce the risk of this happening must be welcomed."

He said that it would be for the police to exercise discretion over what may be regarded as a "reasonable excuse" for an airgun or replica weapon to be carried in public.