Police urge youths to stop carrying imitation guns

AUCKLAND: Frontline police fear young gangsters carrying fake guns could ultimately become casualties of rapid armed responses to gang shootings and drivebys.

Armed police descended on a Massey street in West Auckland on Tuesday after reports of someone with a firearm. Two people are now assisting police with inquiries.

‘‘Police received reports of an incident on Donovan Ave around 10.27am, where an object resembling a firearm was presented. Police attended and cleared the address as a precaution.’’

Police attending callouts in Auckland are now routinely carrying firearms as part of their safety procedures.

An officer said fake firearms were becoming a worrying trend.

He and his partner attended a callout last week and found a teenager lurking in the area.

When they searched the youth, they found what appeared to be a pistol tucked in his pants.

The officer said had they saw the authenticlooking fake firearm first, it could have been a different outcome.

He said both officers were armed.

‘‘In the darkness of night, you have a split second to make a decision and there’s only going to be one result,’’ the officer said.

‘‘No police officer wants to be put in that position and my advice to our youth, especially our Maori youth, is, don’t do it. Think about your actions.’’

Police have also admitted fake gun incidents are happening more often.

‘‘Police do come across these items as part of daytoday policing duties,’’ a spokesman said.

‘‘Police acknowledge there is a heighten concerned about incidents involving firearms in our communities currently.

‘‘Any incident reported to police which suggests a firearm is involved is taken extremely seriously, and we remind the public that they should expect police to respond accordingly to such reports,’’ the spokesman said.

Parliament this week passed the Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill that empowers courts to ban anyone convicted of specific crimes — including murder and some family violence offences — from accessing or using guns.

The Government said it would reduce firearmsrelated crime by targeting those most likely to use guns illegally.

Courts will be able to impose a firearms prohibition order — or FPO — that lasts 10 years, and it will be an offence to breach the conditions of this order.