Taken from the mirror newspaper today.
A TOTAL ban on replica firearms is being planned after a dramatic rise in gun crime.
The Government's new law and order chief Charles Clarke has ordered officials to look at how the fake weapons can be taken off the streets.
A senior Home Office source said: "The fact is these weapons are terrifying. If one is pointed at someone they have no idea whether it is imitation or real.
"This is a policy area we cannot ignore."
Official figures show there were 2,950 firearms offences involving replica weapons in the 12 months to September 2004, up from 1,990 the previous year.
Police fear fake handguns are becoming the weapon of choice for teenage thugs who try to portray themselves as gangsters.
Even more worrying is the fact that some imitation weapons - which can be bought for as little as £65 - can easily be adapted to fire live rounds.
Others used in crimes and later seized by police include replicas of an Uzi machine pistol and an SA-80 assault rifle like those used by the British Army.
Even before becoming Home Secretary, Mr Clarke was known to be extremely concerned about fake guns.
As a junior minister in 2001 he promised an outright ban after seeing a display of weapons seized by police.
But former Home Secretary David Blunkett last year ruled out a blanket ban, saying it would be too difficult to enforce. Previous plans for a ban were dropped as officials could not agree on a legal definition. There were fears toys and acting props would be included.
But a Home Office source said the "technical difficulties" could be ironed out this time around.
Call To Ban Fake Guns
