CHILDREN as young as 10 years old were among hundreds of youngsters arrested nationally for suspected gun crimes in the last three years, new figures have revealed.

More than 1,500 child arrests for alleged firearm offences were carried out by police between 2013 and January 2016, with the number soaring by 20% last year, an investigation by the Press Association found.

Figures released by forces under the Freedom of Information Act showed there were 1,549 arrests of children for suspected crimes involving firearms, air weapons or imitation guns, including 506 charges brought by police.

The brother of a fatal shooting victim said gangs were using children to carry guns to avoid detection.

Ian Cameron Swanston, whose 20-year-old brother Dorrie was shot dead in Hulme, Manchester in 1999, also believed some youngsters thought carrying guns gave them "status".

Mr Swanston, who is a counsellor and trustee of the charity Mothers Against Violence, said: "The more guns within the community, the more likely it is we will see younger children getting access to them.

"Gangs use children, they use their girlfriends. They use people who the police are unlikely to search.

"For some it's about status. Having a gun is seen as having power and people become fearful of you.

"The impact of their choices is far greater than can be imagined. It is so much easier to destroy a life."

Britain's biggest force, the Metropolitan Police, said 679 children were arrested for suspected firearm offences between 2013 and January 2016, including 30 children aged under 13. A total of 212 children were charged with firearm offences in the same period, the force said.

Merseyside Police said 73 children were arrested for suspected firearm offences between 2013 and 2015. Fourteen boys were charged with crimes involving firearms including robbery, possession of a firearm, possession of an air weapon in a public place, sending threats, wounding and false imprisonment.

West Midlands Police said 83 boys and one girl had been charged with firearm offences since 2013, including an 11-year-old boy in 2015, a 12-year-old boy in 2013 and eight boys aged 13.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said nine boys and one girl were arrested for suspected firearm offences in 2015, compared with six boys in 2014 and seven boys and one girl in 2013.

Greater Manchester Police, which has investigated a string of gang-related shootings since Salford gangster Paul Massey was shot dead in July, and Police Scotland were among the forces which did not provide figures to the Press Association.

Arrests involving North-East and North Yorkshire forces:

  • Cleveland Police said two boys aged 17 had been arrested for possession of a loaded/unloaded air weapon in a public place in 2013 and 2014. One boy was charged.
  • Durham Constabulary said a 17- year-old girl was arrested for possession of an imitation firearm in 2013. The force did not reveal if any children were charged.
  • North Yorkshire Police said 11 children were arrested for suspected firearm offences between 2013 and January 2016, including three boys who were charged with offences. The force refused to provide any more details, arguing it would breach data protection laws.
  • Northumbria Police said eight boys were arrested for suspected firearm offences in 2015, compared with five in 2014 and 25 in 2013. Another boy was arrested in January 2016 and two girls in 2014.

Figures from 29 forces which provided the number of child arrests for suspected gun crimes each year showed the number rose from 423 in 2014 to 507 in 2015.

A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesman said: "Firearms offences in the UK still account for less than 0.2% of total recorded crime. These offences reflect a broad range of crimes which can include air weapons or even possession of a BB gun if used in criminal circumstances.

"Forces across the country and community safety partnerships are working together to prevent young people getting involved in gangs and firearms. This is a key piece of work for all agencies and communities in breaking the cycle of young people becoming involved in gangs and the associated criminality."

Jack Dromey, Labour's shadow policing minister, said: "These chilling statistics of children as young as 10 possessing firearms demand serious investigation by the Home Office.

"We need to learn lessons ranging from tougher penalties for those who supply guns to children to what further steps might be taken to combat gun crime through schools."