Norfolk Constabulary has launched a major new campaign to highlight the dangers of carrying imitation firearms in public and is encouraging owners to give them up.

The four-week initiative, which began on Monday, will allow residents to hand in their weapons to police stations or have them collected by their local Safer Neighbourhood Team.

It is against the law to carry imitation firearms in a public place without permission or a reasonable excuse and it can result in a fine or even a prison sentence.

Many BB, air and imitation guns look identical to real weapons and police themselves are often unable to tell the difference.

Officers often have only a short time to judge whether a gun is real and if it appears to pose a serious threat, carriers could be putting themselves in danger.

Between April and September this year, Norfolk armed officers were called out 102 times. Armed officers were called to 46 sightings of handguns, but replica weapons were recovered in half of these incidents.

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Learmonth said: "I am concerned about the number of BB guns, air weapons and imitation firearms being carried in public.

"Most of them are so like real guns it is impossible to tell the difference unless they are examined closely.

"Armed police officers do not always have time to assess whether a gun being carried in public is real or not – they sometimes have only a split second to make a judgement. If they perceive a genuine threat it could lead to tragic and potentially-fatal consequences.

"Parents should take responsibility for the safety of their children and ensure they do not carry imitation firearms in public places.

"I am hopeful that this month-long awareness campaign and invitation to the public to hand in imitation guns for destruction will result in a reduction in the number of armed deployments resulting in a greater level of safety for the people of Norfolk".

Posters and leaflets will be distributed by Safer Neighbourhood Teams containing information about the law, the dangers of carrying replica weapons in public and details about the hand-in.

For more information, call the police non-emergency line on 0845 456 4467 or email enquiries@nor folk.pnn.police.uk

daisy.wallage@lynnnews.co.uk