Yahoo News Parents angered after pupils shoot 'terrorist' targets during visit to police firing range
A police force has been criticised by parents after inviting school pupils to an open day in which they brandished replica guns and were encouraged to 'shoot terrorist' targets on a mock firing range.
But some of the parents expressed horror after the Year Three pupils were pictured laughing while holding replica weapons including pistols and machine guns.
They were then told to set their sights on a terrorist targets and pretend to open fire on them.
The trip was organised West Midlands Police after pupil from the Kings Norton Primary School in Birmingham sent letters of support to officers, thanking them for keeping them safe in the wake of the Manchester and London terror attacks.
But some parents expressed concern over the tone of the trip and warned that such activities risked "sending out the wrong message".
One father, named David, said: "Explaining to children about why there are police carrying guns on the streets is one thing but actually getting them to pose up laughing while pretending to fire these weapons at, who? Terrorists? Well that sends out the wrong message in my book.
"The police even put out a press release on the internet, entitled 'Ready, aim...smile!' I'm sorry but I don't see anything remotely cheerful about raising a gun.
"What it does is glamorise guns and makes shooting terrorists nothing more than a game. Children should be taught about terrorism in the same way as they are taught about stranger danger and road safety."
Others took to social media to express their concern, with one commenting: "I do very much thank you guys for what you do but must admit I'm a bit horrified by this picture."
Another said: "Not comfortable with these pupils practicing shooting even if it's with toy guns."
But deputy headteacher, Dawn Chapman, defended the excursion, insisting the children had enjoyed it and had learned a great deal.
She said: "After the awful events in Manchester and London we were talking in class about how to stay safe and who protects us.
"Many of the children had said how they'd seen more police in Birmingham and officers carrying guns.
"We wanted to stress to them that they shouldn't feel scared and that the officers were there to keep people safe.
"It was a really good discussion and it ended with the children saying they'd like to write letters to the police to say thanks.
"It was a lovely surprise for us to be invited to the police base and the pupils had a fantastic time, especially on the range and using the sirens and flashing lights; as you'd expect the noisy things proved particularly popular.
"Quite a few of the children said how they'd like to be police officers.
Sergeant Mike Dunbar of West Midlands Police added: "It's great that children are having discussions in school about issues such as security, we want children to feel at ease approaching and speaking to our officers.
"I know it's only light-hearted but for children to be scared of seeing police, or see them as an intimidating authority figure, is the last thing we want.
"You can see from the photos and from the looks on the kids' faces on the day that they all had a wonderful time, they were our VIPs for the day and it was a pleasure to host them."
