Air Rifle Assault in Teddington

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Aug 2002

Special police units protected by flak jackets were called out when teenagers opened fire with an air rifle on local residents.

One resident - Peter Winder - was hit in the head by one pellet, causing intense pain, and heard another shot aimed at him.

MP Vincent Cable has taken up the issue with the local police and is supporting calls from other MPs for tighter restrictions on the ownership and use of air rifles. He said: "despite fiercer restrictions on fire arms generally, the law as it stands leads to air rifles being treated as toys rather than weapons."

"Yet serious injury can be caused to people and animals - as almost occurred here. Also the special police units have to be mobilised and the area cordoned off since, when shots are fired, it is not clear initially what weapon is being used and how much risk there is to the public. Air rifles do have to be taken more seriously".