Whilst it is not illegal to own certain weapons for sports including airsoft and paintball, it is an offence to carry them in public without a reasonable excuse. Doing so has the potential to cause alarm and distress to anyone who may see such an item and confuse it with a viable firearm.
At around 8.35pm on Friday 17 November 2023 Kent Police received a report that a man had been seen with a handgun inside a public house in Queen Street, Deal.