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Citation |
Wheal H, Tilley N. Howard J. Crim. Just. 2009; 48(2): 172-183. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2009, Howard League for Penal Reform, Publisher John Wiley and Sons) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
Imitation gun‐enabled crime has received extensive political and media coverage in the UK over recent years. The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (VCRA) was introduced to control public possession, manufacture, import and sale of imitation guns. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has drawn on the Act: publicising it, enforcing it and running a targeted surrender scheme enabling the hand‐in of imitation weapons at police stations. A series of significant loopholes in the Act have emerged. Moreover MPS experience also suggests surrender schemes may not be an effective way of reducing the use of imitation weapons in crimes but can serve as useful awareness tools. |