An increase in gun crime in Swindon and Wiltshire is a major worry for the police. Crime reporter SCOTT D’ARCY looks at the work of the county’s Armed Response Group NEW police figures suggest an extremely worrying link between young people and gun crime – with the youngest arrested in the last 18 months aged just 12.

Statistics obtained by the Adver show 15 out of the 92 people arrested for gun offences in the last three years were under the age of 18, while the number of handguns and imitation firearms destroyed by Wiltshire Police went up to 141 last year, compared to 47 in 2010.

The head of the Armed Response Group has issued a stark warning to youngsters that they are putting themselves in danger by carrying weapons.

Inspector Alan Webb said: “The figures are extremely worrying – my greatest fear as a firearms commander is that our officers will have to face a child in possession of an imitation firearm.”

The unit has begun to link up with secondary schools in a bid to bust the myths and mystique around guns.

So far they have spoken to more than 2,500 pupils in schools across the county using the Firearms and Knife Education (FAKE) presentation, created and developed by Hampshire Police in 2007.

“The main aim of FAKE is to educate youths on the dangers and consequences of carrying guns and knives,” said Insp Webb.

“We have had very positive feedback from pupils and have improved their understanding of the issues and risks in carrying firearms.

“Most of them know someone who is in possession of a firearm – be it a soft air or imitation gun – and they think it’s a toy.

“A lot of them look extremely realistic though and no-one can tell the difference between a BB gun and the real thing.

“There can be serious consequences, not least in that they will be faced with firearms officers if they are reported having it in public. Possession of an imitation firearm in a public place can be up to five years in prison. So education is essential.”

But Insp Webb is keen to stress gun crime is not as high in the town or county at large as it might be perceived.

Figures show the number of weapons seized that were linked to serious crime numbered 19 since 2010, including just three handguns.

He said: “Those are low numbers – we would like none but they are very low and I must stress Wiltshire is an extremely safe county.

“The fear of gun crime is higher than the reality – the last shooting with a lethal weapon was the one in Pinehurst in 2010 and these are a very infrequent occurrence.

“Having said that, we are not complacent and we will maintain the work we are doing in schools.”

While the total number of weapons destroyed by police in the county rose slightly from 358 to 424 in 2011, Insp Webb points out many are not linked to crime.

He said: “The majority of weapons we deal with are not related to serious crime. Many come to us by way of people handing them in, including licence holders who don’t want them any more or people who find old service weapons in the loft after a relative passes away.

“Anything that comes into police possession will be destroyed and sold for scrap when it is no longer required and the proceeds are then donated to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.”