SAMUEL ENGLAND

Samuel England was left in tears after a police officer ordered that his toy gun should be broken in front of him.!

Samuel England was playing with the plastic toy outside his house in Pinehurst on Wednesday when the police officer pulled him up.

His sister Sophie was also banned from riding her battery-powered Barbie car on the pavement in Beech Avenue minutes later. (Samuel England)

The family say the officer called at the family's home and said it was an offence for Samuel to play with an imitation firearm in a public place.

Samuel's mother's partner John Standen, 34, was told to destroy the gun or face the boy being taken to the police station.

"The officer told me if I didn't break it Samuel would be arrested," he said.

"It is not right as it is only a toy gun - you can buy them everywhere.

"Samuel was so upset - he didn't stop crying for about 10 minutes.

Samuel said: "The police officer took me and my friend's gun. I felt very sad and angry."

Mum Sarah, 30, said: "Samuel was so scared that he would be taken away. I had to explain to him that they can't do that."

The gun which is now broken in two has an orange trigger, which made a noise. The barrel is sealed with plastic.

Five minutes after the police officer had witnessed the destruction of the gun, he returned to complain about Sophie's Barbie car.

The six-year-old was travelling on the pavement in the battery-powered car at three miles an hour and the officer said it is only allowed in the garden.

Sarah said: "I'm so annoyed. There are loads of kids and they all play out there.

"People will be buying the cars for Christmas so parents need to know they aren't allowed on the pavement."

PC Vicky Floyd, the community beat officer for Pinehurst Neighbourhood policing team, said she was unable to comment on the specific incident but said that even toy guns can be mistaken for real weapons.

She said: "All reports of firearms result in the deployment of specifically trained officers and this diverts them from other duties.

"There is also a risk to the person carrying such a weapon. It is difficult to tell the difference between a real and an imitation firearm and officers will take appropriate action to protect the public."

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