24 year old caught threatening woman with replica gun

A man has been arrested and cautioned after threatening a woman with a BB gun in Hounslow on 13 November. The 24-year-old man from Ealinghas been given a police caution for possessing an immitation firearm in a public place.

Police were called during the evening to Cineworld, Browells Lane after the man, who was the passenger in a friend's car, showed the gun to a passer-by. Police traced the car to an address nearby, and specialist firearms officers assisted local officers to arrest him.

This incident highlights the stupidity of carrying replica guns in public. It is worrying that armed police are regularly called to deal with such incidents - as it is sometimes impossible even at close range, to tell the difference between a replica gun or the real thing.

November 17, 2005