POLICE have issued a warning after a 13-year-old was arrested in Stalybridge for possessing an imitation firearm.
The boy was picked up on the evening of Friday, July 21 after officers were called to reports of a male firing pellets at objects and people on Market Street.
An imitation firearm was recovered and the teenager has been bailed while enquiries continue after being arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The seizure came about following patrols in Tameside by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) serious violence team Operation Venture.
That was set up in late autumn last year to help step up enforcement action and deter violent crimes from occurring.
Inspector Jon Ezard of GMP’s Operation Venture, said: “Guns and weapons have no place on our streets and GMP will immediately respond to incidents involving firearms to ensure that our communities remain safe and feel safe.
“Possession of an imitation firearm in a public place is a very serious offence and can result in up to 10 years in prison.
“There is no excuse for owning such a weapon and I urge anyone in possession of one to surrender it before it is too late.
“You can do so anonymously and without fear of prosecution at one of the Forever Amnesty bins located at Police Stations across Greater Manchester.”
If you have any information that could help build the intelligence picture around the use and storage of weapons, please report it to GMP so we can act upon it.
You can do so via the LiveChat function on GMP’s website www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Always dial 999 in an emergency.