Officers warn against possession of imitation firearms after teenager is arrested in Tameside

Officers are warning against possession of imitation firearms after a 13-year-old male was arrested on Friday 21 July 2023.

The arrest came about following patrols in Tameside last week by Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) serious violence team Operation Venture. The team was set up in late autumn last year to help step up enforcement action and deter violent crimes from occurring.

On the evening of 21 July, officers were called to reports of a male firing pellets at objects and people on Market Street in Stalybridge. A swift response saw a 13-year-old detained by officers and an imitation firearm was recovered.

The male was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He has been bailed whilst enquiries continue.

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: Forever Amnesty | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk)

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.