Lothians police draw guns four times per week

ARMED police draw their weapons an average of four times a week in the Lothians as gun-related crime soars to new heights.

Police chiefs have given the order for firearms officers to be "prepared to fire" more than 160 times since April last year - more than double the year before.

Growing problems with fake or replica guns and air weapons have seen police marksmen attend 324 firearms-related incidents in the last nine months.

The extent of the growing gun culture was revealed as new laws come into effect today making it illegal to carry an air weapon or replica gun in a public place. Under the plans, police will have the powers to arrest anyone carrying fake guns or air weapons in public without good reason.

The order for police marksmen to prepare to fire is only given when senior officers believe lives are at risk.

In most of the incidents attended, the guns involved have later been found to be fake or replicas.

Sergeant John Whitefield, of the Lothian and Borders licensing unit, said it was increasingly easy for people to get firearms, especially on the internet.

He said: "It is very worrying that the numbers of firearms-related incidents continues to rise despite all the warnings." He said police were concerned that someone pointing a weapon at a member of the public or a police officer could be shot by armed response teams. Sgt Whitefield added: "The new laws will be enforced strictly throughout the Lothian and Borders area.

"Many people carry these weapons through ignorance and because they are not aware of the repercussions of carrying them in the street."

The laws, passed under the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003, will also see the age limit for the possession of air weapons increased from 14 to 17. A licence will now be needed for air weapons which use a self-contained gas cartridge system - known as Brococks after the main manufacturer. Owners have until May 1 to take them into police stations or to apply for a firearms licence.

The legislation bans any similar firearm from being manufactured, sold, purchased, transferred or acquired without a licence.

Deputy Chief Constable Tom Wood, who has long warned of the dangers of carrying such weapons, welcomed the new legislation.

He said: "Someone, somewhere faces being shot in possession of one of these weapons, whether they are real or fake. It is impossible for firearms officers to tell the difference between a fake and a real weapon, especially if it is dark and the suspect is standing several feet away."

Only last week, a teenager was shot in the head with an airgun in a random drive-by shooting just yards from his home on Loaning Road.

Kyle Boggie, 17, collapsed in agony after a pellet became lodged in his skull, following the unprovoked attack last Friday. He was talking to friends outside the Craigentinny Castle community centre when a car pulled up a short distance away and shots were fired from it.