15 January 2023 , 22:19
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Armed police have carried out a search on a property in the West Midlands after a report that "numerous guns" were being kept there.
Officers in Brownhills, Walsall, were sent out to the area when a concerned healthcare professional reported that they had seen the weapons.
During their search of the address, they discovered a total of 48 assault rifles, shotguns and handguns.
However, after physical inspections of the guns police confirmed that all of them were either replica guns or airsoft guns — which shoot plastic balls instead of bullets.
The occupier was warned that they could be committing an offence if they take any of the replicas out of the house.
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Officers were called to the address by a concerned healthcare professional (Getty Images/iStockphoto)It is illegal to possess an imitation firearm in a public place unless you can prove you have "lawful authority or a reasonable excuse"
Officers said the occupant could risk being challenged by police if spotted in public with the replica weapons.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police told Birmingham Live : "This week our officers visited an address after a report from a concerned health professional who witnessed numerous guns within a premises.
"On attendance our officers identified numerous Assault Rifles, Shotguns & Handguns at the location (48 in total).
"Armed response officers also attended and after a physical check on all the guns it was confirmed they were airsoft and replica guns."
Police warned that it can be an offence to carry an imitation firearm in public (Getty Images)They added: "Our officers explained the dangers of owning such a collection to the occupier and highlighted the offences that could be committed by taking any of the guns out of the house into public areas."
"They continued: "Being in a public place with such a realistic replica gun could also bring the inherent risk of being engaged/challenged by Armed Police Officers."