THE disclosure that potentially-dangerous air pistols, which could easily get into the hands of children, are on offer as free gifts on a £1-a-minute premium rate phone line is worrying.

But equally disturbing is the ease with which such questionable, openly-advertised business can be set up on the telephone system.

Alerted by this newspaper, the premium-rate phoneline industry watchdog, ICSTIS, is now investigating this case and trading standards officials are bringing the police and Advertising Standards Authority into the probe.

This is all very well.

But is there no way phoneline services can be vetted before they commence, rather than afterwards when harm may already have been done?

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