Charity calls on government to ban sales of dangerous catapults' to young people

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"Campaigners have called on the government to ban the sale of catapults to under-18s after reports that the weapons are increasingly being used to inflict damage to wildlife and people. Kent Police said videos are circulating online of young people targeting animals with catapults. It's generally groups of youths with catapults just targeting anything to kill and they're sharing those pictures and videos of themselves doing this on social media, Sergeant Darren Wilshaw said."

The Independent sends journalists to cover developing stories across topics and relies on donations to fund reporting while keeping content free of paywalls. Donations allow continued on-the-ground reporting and interviews with both sides. Campaigners urge a legal ban on selling powerful catapults to under-18s following reports of youths using them to harm wildlife and people and sharing footage online. Kent Police warned that videos show young people targeting animals and that a catapult attack to the head could be potentially lethal. Current law does not criminalize mere possession in public without intent or evidence of harm. Charities call for treating powerful catapults as dangerous weapons with sales restrictions, public carrying limits, and tougher penalties.

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