CHESHIRE CONSTABULARY

Press Release

March 21, 2007

A FIREARMS officer has the reduction of weapons offences in his sights.

Firearms Support Unit officer PC Neal Miller is using a presentation aimed at young people to reach his target.

His efforts have been triggered by changes in legislation and his experiences of dealing with incidents involving real and imitation firearms.

Winsford HQ-based PC Miller said: “Changes in legislation in 2003 make it an offence to possess a firearm or anything that looks like a firearm in a public place.

“In 2005, the force’s Armed Response Vehicle was sent to deal with hundreds of firearms incidents. Around half of these involved a replica, a BB gun or an air weapon. I attended many of these incidents and lots of them involved young people.

“It was clear these youngsters weren’t aware of the law and they honestly didn’t know they were doing wrong. I thought to myself “If the youths don’t know about the laws, how can they possible conform to them?”

“I decided the young people of Cheshire needed educating not only in terms of laws but also on the dangers of firearms and of being confronted by a firearms police officer whilst in possession of a replica weapon.”

So far, PC Miller has delivered presentations to more than 2,200 young people since he began delivering talks in 2005. He uses DVDs, replica and real guns as part of his work.

The talk focuses on three main topics – how not to get arrested by PC Miller and his firearms trained colleagues, how not to get shot at by them and the role of and equipment used by the Armed Response Vehicle.

Students get actively involved throughout by running through situations armed officers regularly deal with. They discuss the challenges they face and the decisions they would make if they were in the same situation, some of these decisions taking only a split second.

“I’ve been told by teachers they have never seen the pupils sat so quietly and concentrating so hard! The best response was when I did a talk at a youth club and the following day two boys surrendered four replica weapons to their local Community Action Team officer. The message clearly got through.

“A response I always get is that students had no idea they were committing offences. I think this shows there is clearly a need for the type of work I’m delivering,” said PC Miller.

Year Seven is the age group PC Miller is most keen to deliver his talks to and over the coming months he’s visiting as many Cheshire schools as possible.

Any Cheshire youth organisation is free to make a request for a presentation by PC Miller. To make a request contact 0845 458 0000 and ask to speak to a Schools Liaison Officer.