Revealed - arsenal of guns seized by Midlands police

Armed police are on the frontline of the crackdown on gun and gang crime.

visits the West Midlands Police Firearms Unit.

An AK47, an Uzi and an exact replica of the handgun used by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein – these are just some of the guns lurking in the depths of West Midland Police's weapons store.

A myriad of fierce firearms that have been seized by or surrendered to the force are contained within the unit - based at a secret location in the region.

But despite the thousands of weapons stacked-up on dozens of racks, gun crime across the West Midlands is on the decline.

Last year, only 94 firearms believed to have been used in crime were actually seized by the force.

The difficulty, however, for the brave firearms officers faced with making life or death decisions is how to know whether the weapon they are faced with is real.

The range of guns they come across require the need for the force to keep the thousands of deactivated firearms in the weapons store for training purposes.

But it has emerged that imitation guns, easily sought for just a few pounds from a variety of websites, could lead to as disastrous a conclusion as the real thing.

Holding two handguns - one fake and one real despite being almost identical in sight and weight - police trainer Pc Rob Pedley, a former firearms officer for 11 years, described the difficulty officers face.

"You have to very quicky assess the situation and decide what the correct response is. It's very difficult to know whether a firearm someone is in possession of is genuine or an imitation, and it is even more difficult when think about the fact that it could be pitch black and the person holding that weapon could 50 yards or more away," said Pc Pedley.

What the force is able to do to help ensure officers make the correct decision in such situations is train them to the highest possible standard.

More than 200 officers applied to join the firearms unit earlier this year.

A medical, gruelling fitness test, basic gun handling assessment and scenario-based examinations saw that number whittled down to just 24.

Only 12 progress to the tactical stages of the course which includes exercises on location across the region.

It is about 15 years since the last fatal shooting by the unit, when an officer opened fire on a robber who was holding a Birmingham supermarket manager at knifepoint. The officer required to pull the trigger that day fronts a sobering presentation during the course describing his emotions on having to take someone's life.

Chief Inspector Paul Minor, head of the force's Firearms Unit, said: "The perception of firearms units may be weapons and fast cars – but in reality it can be a lonely place.

"Take this scenario: you've been called to a potential firearms incident at 3am, very low light, when someone appears from the shadows, sees you and reaches inside their jacket pocket. Are they reaching for a gun? If you see a weapon can you be sure it's a genuine threat or a replica?

"Sometimes officers need to make split-second decisions…and decisions that could have catastrophic consequences. "Our officers are trained to an exceptionally high standard by experts with many years firearms tactical experience; that's why I'm confident that in the vast majority of incidents they will make the right decision."

With 115 people in the West Midlands injured in firearms incidents over the last year, the requirement for the force to have one of the leading firearms units in the country is clear.

Figures show there were 18 firearms incidents in Wolverhampton, 12 in Sandwell and nine each in Walsall and Dudley during that period. And the seriousness of the dangers of guns being discharged was brought home in Wolverhampton just a couple of months ago when a series of high-profile gang-related shootings plagued the city.

But while firearms officers were deployed to the streets to help keep the peace, others workwith youngsters to warn them of the stark dangers of gun crime.

Pc Pedley runs the force's Guns & Knives Take Lives scheme, which in the past two academic years has reached almost 15,000 children, aged from 11 upwards.

"It is well received," said Pc Pedley. "Some cry, some are shocked. If it stops just one young person from associating with gangs, guns or knives then it is all worth it."