Police fear carrying fake guns could endanger youngsters

They say they are responding to more incidents of young people being seen with firearms and have made a DVD, "Split Second" for schools.

There are fears many youngsters regard guns as "cool" and often carry replicas which look like the real thing.

Officers say this can put youngsters' lives in danger, because the police could open fire on them, thinking they are carrying real firearms.

The film will be shown to pupils aged between 11 and 16 as part of classes in citizenship.

Pc Rob Showell said: "Hopefully we'll raise their awareness and their perceptions, and all we can do is hope that they will have the knowledge to make decisions, and let's hope they're the right decisions - and the decisions not to take objects of this nature into a public place where other people become fearful of them."

Research by Leicester police revealed 45% of all incidents the county's armed officers are called to are responses to weapons seen and reported by members of the public and that by far the majority of these turn out to involve youths with replica or toy guns.

The DVD was officially launched on Tuesday and the police say other forces have expressed their interest.