Writer: Roadside gun testing is widespread (From Bucks Free Press)

Freetime feature: Roadside gun testing is widespread across UK says Lane End writer Matt Seiber

5:50pm Saturday 12th November 2011 in Interviews By James Nadal

Courtesy of Mr Seiber

EVIDENCE of a widespread and surprising phenomenon whereby people are test firing guns along the UK's roads is revealed in a new crime investigation book by a former Royal Marine.

Weapons, some with the capacity to kill from a mile away, are being used regularly – but apparently without detection – according to Matt Seiber.

The Lane End writer, who has penned Gunfire Graffiti, lifts the lid on a heretofore undiscovered world where road signs are used as target practice for people with likely illegally owned guns.

Ex-Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross has written the foreword for the book.

Mr Seiber, a Royal Marine between 1978-1988, says he was targeted by people test firing handguns on the side of the road in Spain around that period.

After noticing more and more signs of gunfire on road signs in the UK he started investigating seriously in 2008.

“All I did then was keep looking and the more I looked at the more I found. "I've also discovered, to my knowledge, nobody has ever written about this phenomenon anywhere in the world.

“I expected the authorities to say 'we're fully aware, we know it's going on' but I discovered, what I found quite shocking, is there's no communication at all, nothing.”

His evidence suggests that weapons as powerful as a military grade rifle - which can be used to shoot large game and kill a mile away - are being used.

His search has taken in 31 counties in the UK – including Bucks – to date.

There is lots of air weapon damage around Marlow, among other nearby towns, he said.

“We're all aware of gun crime and know it exists,” the married father-of-four said.

“That's not news to anybody, but it's the fact that people use and test fire fire arms in this manner with total impunity. “I'm certainly sure most of these events are perpetrated by people who have a firearm illegally.” Anyone wishing to test fire illegal guns can't try it in their garden or the woods because it might attract attention, he imagines.

“Far easier to do it by the roadside, where you're mobile and can test it against a feature like a road sign which is very robust and you can get a good indication of it's power and so forth,” he said.

“It's not new, I'm not pretending to discover some new phenomena.

"It's the kind of thing you associate with the US or the Middle East but not in little old England.”

However, he believes hundreds of people are doing it, rather than a more vast number.

Gunfire Graffiti is his first published book.

“A lot of people have tried to put me off, have pooh-poohed it, it's been a lot of toil and hard work,” he explained.

Mr Steiber, a corporate driver trainer by trade these days, has had his book endorsed by BBC news man Mr Ross.

He added: “I was so grateful to Nick, he's a gentleman.”

The book is expected to be in print shortly.