Tennis club calls for catapult ban after vandalism

A campaign has been launched to make carrying catapults in public illegal

A tennis club in northern Surrey has backed a campaign to ban the carrying of catapults in public, after its windows were smashed.

The incident happened at Knowle Hill Tennis Club in Virginia Water in Runnymede.

Danni Rogers, a volunteer at Shepperton Swan Sanctuary, has launched an online petition, after catapults were used in attacks on wild and domestic animals.

But one retailer who sells the items said a ban would unfairly penalise anglers.

Knowle Hill's club secretary Tony Campain told BBC Radio Surrey: "Somebody fired a catapult through the external wire netting and shattered the window.

"My colleague who does the repairs was able to see two pellets which had been caught in the window.

"I would fully support a ban on catapults."

This Canada goose was brought to Shepperton Swan Sanctuary with injuries caused by a catapult

Andrew Fuller, whose Dorking shop sells catapults, said a blanket ban would be unfair.

"There's a lot of anglers who use catapults for legitimate purposes and why should we be targeted?" he said.

"Fishermen use a catapult for firing bait into the water, they're designed for close range."

Mr Fuller said he also sold catapults designed for target shooting, with a range of 50m (164ft) but would not sell to anyone under 18.

"Maybe an age restriction would be a compromise?" he added.

Danni Rogers, pictured with Surrey Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, has had support from the PCC's office for his campaign

Mr Rogers has until 27 May to raise enough signatures to get a response from the government or have the matter debated in Parliament.

"We speak to anglers and they don't use these types of catapult," he said.

"Anglers who would use a slingshot are doing it in a private lake, they're not walking round the streets taking random shots."

In a statement, Surrey Police said: "It's appalling to think anyone would fire objects at an innocent animal, whether it's a deliberate act of an accident.

"We take all reports of such actions very seriously and have previously issued warnings and advice through our social media about the consequences and dangers posed by carrying weapons."

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