Staggering: Air guns used in 524 crimes in West Midlands

More than 160 cases involved minor injuries, but 19 also involved 'serious' injuries with piercing of the skin.

And there were 10 cases where air weapons were reportedly used as a 'threat'.

The statistics do not include the blinding in one eye of Cannock police officer Jon King, who works for the neighbouring Staffordshire force, by a gas powered hand gun in Rugeley last year.

He was shot twice in the face at close range when he responded to an incident in Wat Tyler Close, in October.

The figures have raised the question of whether the laws governing air rifles should be tightened up.

Currently, anyone aged 18 or over can buy one. But anyone aged 14 or over is allowed to fire one, unsupervised, on private land, with the owner's permission.

Only the most powerful air weapons require a firearms certificate.

But a spring powered pistol, painted bright orange, can be bought online for £12.99.

A disclaimer on the website of retailer Just BB Guns reads: "The sale of this item has been restricted to adults only. There is no minimum age requirement by law to use this item, however adult supervision is recommended at all times."

Some air guns look like realistic weapons but the retailer restricts their sale to people that can prove a legitimate use such as membership of shooting clubs, theatre or re-enactment groups.

There is nothing to suggest any guns bought from this site were used illegally in the West Midlands.

Chief Inspector Daniel Delaney, from West Midlands Police firearms team said: "Any incident involving an air weapon can have serious consequences. The figures show a recent reduction in incidents year on year from 2013/ 2014 . However it's important that any air weapon owners follow basic advice on keeping themselves and their weapons safe.

"If you own an air weapon, you need to treat it as a normal firearm, including how the weapon is stored. Owners should store them out of sight and separately from pellets in a robust, lockable cupboard, inside a house rather than an outbuilding.

"Children should never have access to air weapons unless on private land and under responsible adult supervision.

"They should not be taken out in public. People carrying or using air weapons in public could face the possibility of being confronted by armed police officers which could endanger themselves and others."

Dudley North MP Ian Austin said the figures were 'staggering'. He said: "No-one would want to be a killjoy and curtail the lawful use of air guns for sport.

"However, these figures are staggering and the West Midlands cannot be the only place where this is an issue.

"I will raise this with the Home Secretary to ask if she can consider tackling the unlawful use of air guns."

And Richard Costello, spokesman for West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, added: "This is an issue that we will be looking at to see if additional legislation from government could be helpful for the police."

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show there were 176 reports of crimes involving pellet guns in 2014/15, 169 in 2013/14 and 179 in 2012/13.

West Midlands Police recorded reports about 'ball bearing' guns, 'air rifles', 'air pistols',and 'soft air weapons'.

The serious injuries involved seven with air rifles, four with air pistols, six with ball bearing guns and one from a 'soft' air weapon.

Christopher Graffius, director of communications for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation said: "To reduce air gun crime we need to educate people that it is serious and that the guns should be treated with respect. There are some 36 laws dealing with them."

Simon Barber, of the National Small-bore Rifle Association, which represents shooting in sport, said: "It is very sad if air guns are being used in this way. These figures will almost certainly relate to people using them outside of regulated situations."