Armed police called to reports of people with firearms in West Sussex
It's led to calls for people with BB guns to keep and use them safely
People are being advised to make sure they keep and use air weapons or BB guns legally, after armed police were called out twice in West Sussex.
The incidents, in Selsey and Horsham, were sparked by members of the public becoming concerned about weapons being carried in public.
In both cases, the weapons were not viable firearms, but looked realistic enough to cause concerns.
In a statement, Sussex Police said that both incidents were entirely avoidable, had those involved taken sensible steps not to have the items in public.
All air weapons and air soft guns must be used on private property and have the permission of the property owner.
They must also be two-tone in colour to clearly demarcate them from being an illegal firearm.
Inspector Oli Fisher from Sussex Police’s Tactical Firearms Unit said:
"BB guns and air weapons are legal to buy and many people in the county will own them.
"It is important for everyone who owns or handles one to make sure they understand the law and stay within it. In some cases, items are made to look more realistic by being repainted.
"If the colour of the items is changed to make them look like a real firearm, this risks causing unnecessary concern to the general public.
"In these circumstances, armed response officers will often be deployed to respond to these concerns from the public.
"This puts the owner or handler at risk of being arrested and getting a criminal conviction, and it also puts the public at risk if our armed officers are busy responding to these concerns when they may be needed at a critical incident elsewhere."