A TEENAGE boy was taken home by police after he was spotted carrying what officers thought was a machine gun.
On closer inspection the firearm turned out to be a ball bearing gun, and officers escorted the 16-year-old home to discuss with his parents the dangers of carrying imitation weapons in public.
The boy was stopped by concerned officers in Elmton Road, Creswell, and the gun was later destroyed.
Sgt Phil Bentley said: "We explained to the boy and his family about not only the law in relation to these so called toys, but also the dangers.
"It could cause distress to people who see the gun or have it pointed at them, but could also put the owner in danger.
"You can be jailed for possession of an imitation firearm, which includes some types of toys."
An imitation firearm is defined as having an appearance "so realistic as to make it indistinguishable from a real firearm". It is an offence for under 18s to buy an imitation firearm and illegal to sell them to anyone under 18.
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