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Wigan council focuses on firearms

05/03/2008

Wigan council, in association with the Greater Manchester Police (GMP), has announced plans to target the sellers of illegal imitation firearms.

Imitation firearms have been targeted because they evoke fear in communities and can also lead to the deployment of the police's firearms unit, wasting valuable police resources.

Owners of imitation firearms are being asked to hand them in to local police for gun hand-in month throughout March.

GMP detective chief inspector John Lyons states: "There are very few people who have good reason to own or carry any type of firearm, real or fake.

"Hand them in now and help make our county safer for everyone."

The operation forms part of the GMP's Xcalibre campaign to rid Greater Manchester's streets of guns and follows Wigan council's half-term Hate Crime Awareness Week youth scheme.

Recent legislation made it illegal for shops to sell air weapons unless registered with local police, or to manufacture, sell or import realistic imitation firearms.