A man holiding a gun that is pointed directly at you. If you can't tell the difference, how can we?

Real or fake...
Can you tell the difference?

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"If you can’t tell the difference how can we?" is the stark message from firearms officers who have launched a gun awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of possessing imitation firearms.

Imitation weapons present a significant risk to the force. Many are now carried by young people in a misguided attempt to reinforce their image or provide some form of self-protection.

Firearms officers are engaging with parents, schools and communities to identify and publicise the threat imitation firearms pose.

Officers have been visiting secondary schools to talk about the dangers of carrying imitation firearms that could trigger an armed response. This follows on from pupils at Fairfield High School, Bristol, joining forces with the police to make a dramatic DVD about the dangerous consequences of carrying a fake gun. (To watch the film click on the ‘Innocence’ icon).

You can contact the police to arrange for the safe disposal of a firearm.

Gun facts

• 48 percent of the 21,521 recorded crimes involving firearms in England and Wales in 2005-06, involved the use of air weapons.
• Of all incidents requiring armed police attendance in Avon and Somerset 90% are found to involve imitation guns or air weapons.
• Reports of firearms are significantly higher during the spring and summer months across the force.
• Each time an armed response unit is called it costs your community £1,410 - the cost of 27 bobbies patrolling your neighbourhood for an hour.

Over fifty imitation firearms have been surrendered by members of the public during the guns amnesty in June.

Weapons surrendered included BB guns, toy guns and even a replica 7 foot Muscat.

Superintendent Andy Pullan said: "We find that imitation guns are often bought as presents for children and young people from car boot sales. But the use of these realistic looking weapons in public could result in children racing armed officers, putting themselves and others in real danger, and being arrested.

"Every firearm we take out of circulation is one less posing a danger to the public.

"Each and every gun handed in will be destroyed and cannot be used to kill, injure or threaten. I am very pleased by the response we've had locally and the continual efforts made to educate youngsters on the dangers theae weapons pose. This gun awareness campaign is a clear sign of our commitment to making our communities safer.

Watch videos of the media taking part in a training exercise.