A MINIATURE gun disguised as a key fob has become the latest weapon being used by criminals on the streets of Britain, writes Will Iredale.

Britain’s 51 police forces have been put on alert after a handful of the guns were recovered in parts of Manchester and London.

The weapons, imported from eastern Europe, have been adapted from a miniature distress flare gun and can hold two bullets. Despite their size — just 4in by 2in — they are lethal if fired from close range and have already been blamed for one murder.

The key fob guns are becoming popular as they are more difficult to detect if criminals are searched by police. Firearms experts say they are also valued for their “novelty” appeal. Thirteen have been found since last October and police believe that they are part of a batch of up to 100 smuggled into Britain.

Steve McGarry, an inspector at Greater Manchester Police who works on the firearms group at the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: “Although the accuracy is not great and the range is just a few feet, these guns can be lethal.”

The weapon, which fires two .22 bullets, is cocked by pulling part of the key ring. Two buttons on the sides of the box-shaped fob are pressed to fire it and a third button opens the gun for reloading.

Two weeks ago a man in Manchester was convicted for possessing a key fob gun. Junior Collins, 27, from the Moss Side area of the city, was stopped by police for speeding in his VW Bora in neighbouring Hulme.

Police became suspicious when Collins started fumbling with something in his pocket. They disarmed him after one of the officers realised that the 4in fob that he was pulling out was a gun. It was found to contain two bullets and Collins was sentenced to 6½ years in prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Officers are concerned because they fear that they could be fired upon in stop and searches. “We have taken steps to inform every police officer in the country that these guns are out there,” said McGarry. “If they come across one of them they are not the safest weapon and they will pose a threat during house searches.”

The guns have been adapted from flare pistols originally designed to be used in a plane crash, or a boating or mountaineering accident. Their small size means that they can be kept in a pocket or attached to a life jacket for easy access in emergencies.

Firearms experts say that the fobs probably came from Bulgaria but were then adapted into guns in another country in mainland Europe before being smuggled across the Channel.

Police have said they are working with Customs and Excise and the National Criminal Intelligence Service to try to prevent further shipments entering the country. Most of the guns recovered so far have been from members of criminal gangs.

The use of disguised guns has increased in recent years. Other objects adapted for shooting have included pens, mobile phones and belt buckles.

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