Officers attended the incident last Friday (February 21)
Armed police were called to reports of a boy with a gun at a busy shopping centre on Friday (February 21).
Officers were informed that a teenage boy was inside the Potteries Shopping Centre, on Market Square in Stoke-on-Trent, was in possession of a firearm at around 4.45pm.
The teenager was reported to have left the centre with two other girls and a boy shortly before armed police arrived at the scene. The area was searched before two boys were located near to Forest Park.
It was then established that one of the boys was in possession of a replica BB gun. He was issued with safety advice and the replica gun – not a viable firearm – was destroyed.
Chief Inspector Laura Davies of Staffordshire Police said in a statement: “Whilst the decision was made on this occasion to issue the boy with words of advice, I would like to remind those who use replica guns in an anti-social manner, causing alarm to members of the public, that they may face arrest when they are caught.
“I’d also encourage parents and guardians to speak to children around the implications of having realistic looking replica guns in public, or using them to engage in anti-social behaviour.”