A MEMBER of a local gun club has criticised the Government over new laws to be imposed on air guns.

Mr Rodney Salter, club secretary for North Watford Air Rifle and Pistol Club, issued a statement last night condemning the proposals, claiming they were "highly unlikely to do anything to make our streets safer".

He went on to say the laws were unnecessary and that strict enforcement of existing legislation would be a far wiser method of attempting to reduce gun-related crime in Britain.

The legislation, to be imposed from May, will mean it is no longer legal to possess a self-contained gas cartridge system (SCGS) weapon without obtaining a firearms certificate.

Anyone who does not get a certificate will have to hand over their weapons to police.

The new legislation has the backing of Watford MP Claire Ward, who has campaigned for tighter controls on air guns.

But Mr Salter said the law would only penalise people who legitimately use guns for sport or leisure.

Firearms officer, Matthew Leng, said the new laws would help police clamp down on misuse of air weapons.

He said those using an air gun properly and with the right certificate would not have any problems.

The legislation comes in the wake of a number of air gun incidents in the Watford area in which children have been badly hurt.

A 13-year-old boy was shot in the face while a teenage girl had to undergo surgery after being hit in the head in an air gun drive-by shooting.