Youths armed with CS spray fuel surge in 'gun' crimes

New statistics show a 22 per cent increase in the number of "gun enabled" crimes in three months this summer.

Police say the sprays are being used by teenagers in muggings and assaults. Gangs are also said to be arming themselves with the weapon as they are easy to obtain.

The "gun enabled" crime figures include possession of CS gas canisters and pepper sprays. However, the Home Office is believed to be reviewing the inclusion of such offences as senior police say the statistics do not accurately reflect the number of firearms offences.

Commander Sue Akers, who is in charge of Scotland Yard's fight against gun crime, said: "What we are hearing from communities is concern about guns and gangs, and that is the main focus of our work. But we are noticing a big increase in the use of CS spray, pepper sprays and BB-type guns.

"These items are not illegal on the Continent and I suspect people are going over there to get them and bring them back. There are huge increases in the use of CS gas in some boroughs."

She said that about 41 per cent of all gun crime figures in London now related to the use of CS gas spays, pepper sprays and BB guns.

Police say the number of shootings and firearms murders is relatively stable, though the age of victims and offenders is falling. So far this year six teenagers have been shot dead in London, many in gang-related incidents.

The rise in gun crime in London comes after months of senior officers reporting that the figure in the capital was falling, against a rising trend nationally.

Ms Akers said: "We are taking this very seriously and tackling it across London. Some of the boroughs have had big successes in seizing large quantities of CS sprays."

The figures include any offence where a victim has seen what appears to be a firearm, for instance where an imitation handgun has been used in a robbery.

As well as relatively minor offences, police are also concerned that youngsters are using CS sprays and BB guns in armed robberies on cash in transit vans.

There are also more incidents of teenagers using BB or air guns to carry out random attacks on passers-by.