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Replica firearms firm to close down after police caution
ESTABLISHED Willingdon business Battle Orders will close at the beginning of next year after a government crackdown on imitation firearms resulted in 'impossible legislation' and the managing director receiving a police caution.
Graham Barton has been managing director of the store in Lower Willingdon for 35 years and he specialises in replica swords and guns.
Mr Barton was arrested in January and received a caution from the Metropolitan Police for selling an deactivated firearm to a 17-year-old over the Internet.
He says his website has six separate notices warning customers they must be over 18 to buy the items and his staff phone each person to check their age.
The 17-year-old customer lied about his date of birth but police decided Mr Barton could have done more to check the teenager's details and he was given a police caution under the Firearms Act.
This incident frightened Mr Barton and the government's law changes, regarding the supply of replica guns, also played a part in the closure of his business.
Changes to the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 were made in October 2007, with an aim to resolve the ever-prevalent issue of gun crime in Britain.
Extensive rules about the colour and size of replica guns affected Battle Orders.
"It is impossible for me to continue trading and subscribe to various confusing and utterly unworkable laws, without fear of arrest and prosecution," said Mr Barton.
"I have been running this business for 35 years with nothing but a speeding fine every 10 years or so but I now have a police caution and the repercussions mean I now can't travel to America and I can't work with children.
"When I left the police station in London I didn't feel like a criminal but there is nothing like a police caution to put a dampener on your enthusiasm for a business."
Mr Barton said he made financial changes last year, including a couple of staff redundancies, to compensate for the credit crunch and has had a successful year of sales.
He added, "While the government trumpets for small businesses, in Battle Orders' case it is not the credit crunch that has forced us to close it is draconian legislation that has been heavy handed and unreasonably applied."
The premises is now up for sale and Battle Orders will close its doors by February 1 at the latest.
Mr Barton says he will be sad to leave and the Royal Opera House will be one of his many customers unable to purchase replica guns and swords for theatre and film productions.
In March 2009 Mr Barton will go to the Philippines to set up a airgun range at the request of the local mayor. His four longstanding full-time staff members will be out of a job.
Mr Barton added, "The whole essence of this is that I don't sell firearms. They may look like guns but they don't go bang because they are just toys.
"I have been forced to close because of government legislation but the question is, when I have packed up and gone will there be less gun crime? Of course not."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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