November 06, 2003

By: Adam Boyd
Website: http://www.paintball-guns-n-equipment.com

Buckinghamshire Trading Standards prosecutes seller of paintball grenade bringing to question the issue of paintball insurance

Buckinghamshire Trading Standards has successfully prosecuted Phoenix Paintball Ltd trading as National Paintball games for selling a smoke grenade to an 11year old boy. The boy purchased the smoke Grenade from the organisers of a paintball event at Tingewick Woods Near Buckingham in November last year. The company are based in Stafford.

Smoke grenades are a form of firework and you must be 18 years of age to purchase them. The 11 year old who purchased the smoke grenade sustained a deep burn on his thigh when the grenade ignited whilst in his pocket. The child has had to have a skin graft and will have to wear a tight pressure garment for approximately two years.

David Collinson, prosecuting, told the Court that the company's staff were inexperienced in the use of these devices, unaware of the dangers of selling such items to young people. No checks were made to ensure that the grenades were only sold to 18 year olds.

Counsel for the defendant told the Court that the company deeply regretted the incident and have now put into place procedures to prevent them being sold to young people in the future.

Aylesbury Magistrates fined Phoenix Paintball Ltd £1500 and ordered them to pay prosecution costs of £732.

Community Services Portfolio Holder, County Councillor Margaret Dewar, said "Traders should be aware of the legislation regarding the sales of age restricted products such as explosives to children to ensure that injuries such as those sustained by this 11 year old do not happen. I hope that publicising this unfortunate incident will raise awareness of the need to be very careful about what goods are sold to young people. The County's proof of age scheme is particularly aimed at helping business identify young people"

About The Author:

Adam Boyd is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.paintball-guns-n-equipment.com.  Find all the paintball gear, masks, jerseys, guns, pistols, protection, paint supplies, accessories and more.