Criminal use of starting pistols sees police ask for phasing out

POLICE are encouraging athletics clubs to phase out the use of starter pistols after it emerged that criminals were converting them into firearms.

Blank firing alarm pistols, traditionally used to start races, are harmless and can be bought cheaply and legally for as little as £40. But organised crime groups, who have been struggling to import illegal firearms, have worked out how to convert them into handguns.

Law enforcement agencies are currently in discussions with manufacturers to find ways of preventing the pistols from being re-purposed and are also asking the Home Office to tighten the current legislation around the devices.

Scotland Yard said they were also working with the athletics community to encourage them to move away from starter pistols and find alternative signals. Commander Dave Mclaren, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “They are imported legally and there are people intent on converting them into live firing weapons.”

Det Supt Nick Blackburn added: “We have recovered several factories in London, Manchester and other areas in the UK where ammunition is being made.

“Blank firing arms are illegal once they are converted and that is relatively easy to accomplish with basic skills.

“We are working with Border Force and the National Crime Agency to see whether there is something we can do to prevent these devices from being easily converted.”

Starter pistols are no longer used in the Olympics and world championships, with organisers using electronic systems to begin races. But they remain popular with grassroots clubs as a cheap and effective way of starting a race.

A UK Athletics spokesman said: “We have been working with the police to look at how we implement new start technology systems, which in turn would reduce the number of pistols required by starters. This work has already commenced over recent years with more electronic systems being tested and used across the UK.”