Police warning after airgun shots are fired from Hastings window

Officers have responded to incidents in which people with air weapons have caused concern for members of the public, prompting a higher number of 999 calls, said police.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Incidents can lead to specialist officers being asked to attend, preventing them attending a genuine emergency where The British Association of Shooting and Conservation says there are more than six million air rifles in England and Wales.

Any air weapon that has a muzzle velocity greater than 12 foot-pounds may only be held on a firearm certificate issued by the police.