Gun culture is on the increase in Britain, with replica guns becoming more prevalent than ever. Police found 72% of the firearms seized by the Metropolitan Police under last year's Operation Trident were imitations, air weapons, blank firers or starter pistols that had been converted, modified or upgraded to fire bullets.

Replica guns are often more dangerous as they do not fire as accurately as normal guns. Mothers Against Guns are campaigning for a complete ban on the sale of replica weapons.

The campaign is endorsed by Toby Harris, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, who said, 'Over the last few years London has experienced a huge surge in gun crime which is part of the escalation of a gun culture in London. Young people are more willing to carry firearms and replica handguns than they used to without recognising the danger that they pose to themselves and innocent passers by.

'This is a serious issue for our police force who are increasingly dealing with gun crime and violence on a daily basis. We must make it harder for people to obtain and convert replicas into deadly weapons. That is why I fully support the call for a total ban of replica handguns and why I was the first signatory to the Mothers Against Guns petition.'

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