Police attacked for failing to arrest gun-toting teens caught on CCTV

A gang of teenage boys wanders down a street in a town centre clutching handguns by their sides in broad daylight.

It is an image that would strike fear into the hearts of anyone - especially as the UK is on alert for a potential terrorist attack.

But incredibly police have yet to contact the businessman who handed over the footage of the boys - aged no older than 14 - caught on his CCTV camera.

Brian Ollier said: "I still haven't heard anything but I don't blame the police - I blame red tape and the system.

"I know that the council wipes its CCTV after a month so they need to get moving. They should be able to follow a trail to wherever the boys went next."

The footage was captured in late September by CCTV cameras placed outside Mr Ollier photographic studio in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

It is thought they were carrying imitation firearms or a ball-bearing guns. It is not illegal to own them but it is an arrestable offence to take one out in public.

Under UK law ball-bearing guns and imitation firearms should be sold only to those aged 17 and over.

He handed the tape to police who vowed to take immediate action to apprehend the three boys aged between 13-16 years.

Last night police said an investigation had been launched and appealed for information to help track down the boys.

Inspector Gary Simpson, head of Neighbourhood Policing Unit in Macclesfield, said the guns were likely to be imitation weapons but claims the incident could have led to fatal consequences.

A firearms unit could have been dispatched and the youths could have been shot dead if they had failed to drop their weapons, he said.

Insp Simpson said: "We are appealing for anyone who knows these boys to come forward and let us know who or where they are - as much for their safety as for the public's.

"If police receive an immediate report that someone is seen carrying a gun the usual response is to call out armed officers.

"Those officers may then find themselves facing what appears to be a firearm and they may ultimately have to make a decision whether to open fire."

He insisted the video tape had been carefully studied and the images circulated during the early stages of the investigation.

Insp Simpson said police officers would be updating Mr Ollier in the event of a 'significant' development in the inquiry.

He added CCTV operators from Macclesfield Borough Council had checked town centre footage and the three teenagers do not appear on it.

"The investigation to trace these young men is very much an active one. As soon as we had the CCTV footage, copies of the picture were circulated to local officers and we are now trying various avenues to try to identify them.

"Mr Ollier acted in a public-spirited way and we would always encourage everyone to do that. We have a duty to keep him updated and as soon as we have something significant to report we will get back to him."

Nicholas Winterton, Conservative MP for Macclesfield said the police should be putting more effort into the investigation.

"If a responsible individual like Brian Ollier, who has a record of community responsibility and is a responsible citizen and local businessman, brings something like this to the police's attention I believe they are obligated to respond quickly and effectively and keep them informed," he said.

"If people are in public swaggering around with weapons, clearly it is behaviour that needs to be stopped and deterred and the police should find, interview and detain them. If these are not replicas then this becomes an even more serious matter."