November 29, 2007: Action On Gun Crime
One hundred and eighteen people have been arrested and over 1300 real and imitation firearms have been seized in Manchester, London, Liverpool and Birmingham as part of a co-ordinated day of action involving over 1,000 police officers to target the supply of guns, increase visible policing and reassure communities in those areas most affected by gun crime.
The co-ordinated day of action, in conjunction with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), forms a key part of the Tackling Gangs Action Programme. The Tackling Gangs Action Programme was established in September 2007 by the Government to focus renewed action to tackle gun crime and serious violence in Liverpool, Birmingham, Greater Manchester and London.
These areas have been identified by the police as suffering disproportionately from problems with criminal gangs which can be involved in gun crime and which present the greatest challenges. These hotspots account for over half of all firearms offences in England and Wales.
The Tackling Gangs Action Programme is overseen by a central Ministerial Taskforce on guns and gangs, chaired by the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, which met for the third time yesterday.
The Tackling Gangs Action Programme will continue to look at future action including:
- the use of covert operations and surveillance against targeted gang members
- the use of civil orders to restrict gang members
- the provision of mediation services for gang members
- the supply of safe houses for victims, witnesses and those seeking to leave gangs
The Home Secretary commented:
"Getting guns off our streets is a top priority for the Government and the Day of Action sends a strong message to criminals and the community that weapons won’t be tolerated. The Tackling Gangs Action Programme has made good progress in working with police, their partners and local authorities to support increased enforcement and community reassurance in these areas. Yesterday’s success proves that gun crime can be tackled and communities can stand up against the intimidation of guns."
Jon Murphy, Head of the Tackling Gangs Action Programme on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers said:
"Tragedies involving young people have a profound effect on all neighbourhoods. Chief Officers across the police service share the desire to work with Government to address the causes of gun and gang-related violence in the most affected areas over the long term. Neighbourhood policing is key to this success and can be highly effective in delivering the sustainable solutions we require. Looking forward the challenge is to develop an approach which combines local and strategic policing to tackle and defeat this corrosive problem."
Roy Clarke, HMRC Director of Criminal Investigations, said:
"HMRC undertake anti-gun smuggling operations to ensure lethal weapons and replica firearms do not find their way on to the streets of our towns and cities. Our work at UK frontiers is supported by good intelligence and close co-operation with other law enforcement agencies both in the UK and overseas in the US, Europe and Middle East; as such we are ready to play our part in the Tackling Gangs Action Programme.
"These efforts have been effective and in the past year having led to the seizure over 700 firearms, including replica guns, shotguns and stun guns along with more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition. We have seen successful prosecutions in the last year with prison sentences ranging from three-and-a-half years to 12 years for the illegal shipment of weapons ranging from handguns to assault rifles."
The national Day of Action took place on Wednesday 28 November. Initial results of the enforcement action as follows:
National results:
Firearms recovered: 10 handguns, 6 other imitation handguns, 1290 realistic imitation firearms, 3 cs gas canisters, 1 stun gun, 4 air weapons. A large quantity of knives and batons. 5 separate seizures of live ammunition
Warrants Executed: 67
Vehicles Seized: 34
Cash Seized: £5900