Police recover imitation firearm from boy, 12

Armed officers from West Midlands Police had attended a park off Hullbrook Road, in Birmingham, on Sunday afternoon after reports of a gunman waving a firearm around.

The officers later found the person in possession of the handgun was a 12-year-old boy. He was stopped shortly after on Billesley Common, where it is understood he was showing the weapon to a group of friends.

Painted

The gun was found to be an imitation, which had been painted black in a bid to make it appear more like a genuine pistol. Police say there was no suggestion the boy used the imitation firearm to threaten anyone or to commit an offence.

The 12-year-old, from Sparkbrook, was detained at the scene in Billesley Common, but later released without charge after police spoke to his parents about the public concern his actions had generated.

Chief Inspector Jason Nunn, from West Midlands Police's Firearms Unit, said: “As you can see it is a very realistic replica. I would challenge anyone to distinguish this from the genuine article – especially if only seen from a distance.

'Worried'

“We received a call from someone who’d seen him pull the gun from a bag and point it at a group of young men he was with. They ducked behind a car so were clearly worried.

“Officers approached the boy in the park and seized the handgun. He was sorry for his actions and we took him home where we spoke to his parents.

"They were warned about his future conduct and told in no uncertain terms his actions were totally unacceptable.

“Carrying an imitation firearm in public, even a toy gun, can cause great concern and lead to a response from our officers.”