POLICE are warning people of the danger of keeping imitation firearms following an incident in Okehampton on Monday afternoon.
A vehicle was stopped at Whitehouse Service Station after a report that the occupants were waving a possible shotgun or firearm of some sort at passers-by.
Police said a report had been received from a member of the public who had followed the car from the Bodmin area. Traffic officers were then deployed and a police helicopter.
Officers stopped the vehicle and retrieved a ballbearing or BB gun which fires small metal pellets. Three men are now helping police with enquiries.
Sergeant Mike Rodway said although it was not an offence to own an imitation firearm it was illegal to use it in a threatening manner.
?Anyone using a gun in a threatening manner runs the risk of being shot themselves,? he said.
Sgt Rodway said it was very difficult to tell if a firearm was an imitation or not and whenever an incident of this type occurred a firearms team was despatched.
?On arrival at an incident the firearms officers will make a decision as to whether it merits the use of their own firearms,? he said. ?Action will be taken if they feel that somebody is threatening them or a member of the public or there is a danger of a loss of life.?