POLICE are warning parents about the dangers of air weapons and ball-bearing guns following an increase in the number of incidents where people mistake them for the real thing.

Out of 49 potential firearm incidents attended by police in July, 25 of those involved youngsters with air weapons and BB guns.

Under the anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced in January it is illegal for a person up to 17 years of age to carry an air weapon in public. If prosecuted the maximum penalty is six-months imprisonment.

And with the school holidays well underway officers at Kent Police are keen to make members of the public aware of their dangers.

Ball Bearing guns can look identical to real guns in colour, size and detailed appearance and this resemblance is thought to be behind a rise in calls to police by people who believe they have seen people carrying them in a public place.

Michael Coltham, FCC duty inspector, said: "Playing with an airgun or BB gun in public is likely to cause alarm to passer by, who understandably mistake it for the real thing. As we have to treat every report of a firearms incident at face value it could also result in you being challenged by an armed police response.

"Our advice to parents and young people is: if you must buy a BB or air gun, please keep it at home."

Kent Police spokesperson Tessa Hallett spoke to KM-fm…