Police criticised after pupils aim fake guns at terror targets
A POLICE force has been criticised by parents after inviting school pupils to an open day in which they brandished replica guns and were encouraged to “shoot terrorist” targets on a mock firing range.
The children, aged seven, were invited to the West Midlands Police firearms training facility in Aston to learn more about how officers protect the public from terror attacks. But some of the parents expressed horror after the pupils were pictured laughing while holding replica weapons including pistols and machine guns. They were then told to set their sights on terrorist targets and pretend to open fire on them.
The trip was organised after pupils from the Kings Norton Primary School in Birmingham sent letters of support to officers, thanking them for keeping them safe in the wake of the Manchester and London attacks.
One father, named David, said: “Explaining to children about why there are police carrying guns on the streets is one thing but actually getting them to pose up laughing while pretending to fire these weapons at, who? Terrorists? Well that sends out the wrong message in my book.”
But Dawn Chapman, deputy head teacher, insisted the children had enjoyed the trip and had learnt a lot.
Sergeant Mike Dunbar, of West Midlands Police, added: “It’s great that children are having discussions in school about issues such as security. We want children to feel at ease approaching and speaking to our officers.”