Fake guns a real problem for police

Inspector David Simpson says there's little to distinguish an imitation police Glock (L) from the real thing. Photo / Richard Robinson

Police fear a surge in people carrying fake guns and air rifles in South Auckland will result in someone being killed.

Over the past six months they have seen a noticeable rise in incidents, with officers attending two or three a week, mainly involving males in their teens and early 20s.

On October 27 a man pulled a pistol on another driver during a road-rage incident on Ti Rakau Drive in Pakuranga. It turned out to be a cigarette lighter. No one was hurt, but police say it is only a matter of time.

"It's not because we're not trained well, but because of the intensity of the situation," said Counties Manukau operations manager Inspector David Simpson. "We have to make a split-second decision and there isn't time to look at the calibre of the barrel to see if it's imitation or not. We just have to go on what's in front of us."

Mr Simpson said imitation guns caused unnecessary fear in the community and wasted resources.

The cigarette lighter incident involved three or four patrols.

"That's a lot of response officers to take out of one area at one time. If police are tied up doing that, what aren't they doing?"

Mr Simpson had no explanation for the surge in fakes and slug guns, but said people could be mimicking what they saw on television.

He did not believe they were being carried for protection purposes.

He warned that carrying a firearm - fake or not - would always "invite an armed response from police".

"The problem for us is these airguns are designed to look like real firearms.

"We have to treat these incidents seriously and it would be a real tragedy if we shot someone and they turned out to only be in possession of a [replica] firearm."

He said there was an incident several years ago when a P-fuelled offender was shot by police after pulling a replica Glock.

Under section 46 of the Arms Act 1983, any person who carries an imitation firearm "except for lawful, proper, and sufficient purpose" - faces up to two years in jail or a $4000 fine.

An "imitation firearm" is defined as "anything that has the appearance of being a firearm capable of discharging any shot, bullet or missile, or other projectile, whether or not it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet, missile, or other projectile".

Mr Simpson said it was next to impossible to tell the difference between fake and real in the heat of the moment. In fact, after the Herald photographed the inspector holding one of each, he could not tell which was which looking at the picture.

Mr Simpson said airguns and imitation police Glocks were readily available, including at some $2 shops.

"Any store with a dealers' licence to sell airguns can sell them legally. There's nothing illegal about them until someone does something silly with them."