Parents are being urged to “dissuade” their offspring from carrying a catapult this summer – amid rising reports of attacks on wildlife.
With the summer holidays fast approaching, Kent Police says it is concerned about children using the slingshots – which it suggests may be in response to videos they are watching online.
In a strongly-worded letter sent to schools and head teachers across Kent, which it asks to be forwarded “accordingly” to families, the force sets out that while carrying a catapult is not a criminal offence, it will lead to criminal liability for children caught using them in the wrong way.
Seeking help from parents, the letter goes on to ask that children be dissuaded from leaving home with a catapult during the school holidays and that adults should explain using one to cause harm or damage is a criminal offence, alongside further advice as to what households can do if they have a catapult they’d like to get rid of.
The letter reads: “There has been an increase in the number of reports received relating to animals and wildlife being targeted, injured or damaged by objects fired from catapults.
“While carrying a catapult is not a criminal offence it’s use may lead to criminal liability depending on the circumstances.”
Calls are mounting to ban the public use and underage sale of catapults following the spike in cruel attacks on animals.
Canterbury City Council (CCC) is spearheading an End Catapult Cruelty campaign, warning of growing numbers of incidents involving birds and other wildlife being maimed or killed by ball bearings and other projectiles.
Among them is a case in Herne Bay, where a female mallard needed stitches after being shot in the body and ducklings who were left orphaned when their mother was killed with a catapult.
In Ashford, there have been repeated reports of pets, swans and even bus windows being targeted by catapult-wielding youths while a teenage boy who shot dead a seagull was seen holding the bird up like a ‘trophy’.
A lakeside community in Greenhithe told KentOnline last month how it has been terrorised by “vile” catapult-wielding teens who are attacking migratory birds, while a Canada goose in Maidstone had to be put down after being found with severe injuries.
Figures from the RSPCA show Kent had the highest number of animal cruelty cases involving weapons in the UK between 2020 and 2023, with 61 incidents reported.
But with no minimum age to buy or carry a catapult there are pushes to close loopholes around sales.
“We banned the carrying and sale of knives. We can do it with catapults,” Canterbury councillor Colleen Nolan said.
“Unfortunately, it’s not just animals – catapults are also being used to damage cars and buses. It has to stop before someone gets seriously hurt.”
“While we are waiting for the law to be changed, shops and websites have an overwhelming moral obligation to put a voluntary ban in place and require proof of age before selling a catapult.”
Inspector Joe Breen, of Kent Police, said officers from its Child Centred policing teams engage with school communities to help young people stay safe and away from ‘illegal and antisocial’ activities.
He added: “The use of catapults to harm wildlife and cause criminal damage is a national issue that has also been reported in Kent, and we are keen to ensure children and their parents are aware of the risks of being involved in this type of behaviour.
“We are grateful to everyone who heeds our advice, which forms part of our overall approach to tackling offences involving catapults that can also include seizing items and making arrests when necessary and proportionate.”
