At 3.37pm on Saturday 10th October 2015 Police were advised of a male waving a gun around on the steps of New Plymouth Library, in Brougham Street, New Plymouth.
Police attended and as a result 16 year old male youth was located concealing a BB pistol on his person and also had with numerous plastic pellets in his pocket. As a result this male has been charged with Unlawful Possession of an imitation firearm.
Police advise that persons carrying any sort of firearm; either real or not, in a public place or where groups of other people are present, could place themselves at risk.
The makers of plastic replica guns have formed an art of making these plastic imitations very realistic and it is very hard to determine from a distance or even close up if they are in fact real or fake. It is generally only when Police have the weapon in their possession that they can clearly determine if it is a replica or not.
Police Officers attending these types of incidents treat all weapons as being real and capable of serious harm, until they can prove otherwise.
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Released by: Kevin Riordan, Shift Commander: Central Communications Centre