To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what controls there are on the (a) purchase and (b) use of BB guns by children; and what controls he plans to introduce on the (i) sale and (ii) use of BB guns by children. [113435]

BB, or more accurately airsoft, guns are low powered, non-lethal air weapons and as such their sale is not controlled under the provisions of the Firearms Act 1968.To the extent they are an imitation firearm they are subject to the provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994. This makes it an offence to threaten other people with an imitation firearm in such a way as to cause them to believe that unlawful violence might be used against them.We are aware that some young people have taken to carrying replica firearms, including airsoft weapons, to impress their friends and intimidate others. Because of this we are introducing, in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, a new offence of having an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.