Some of the
Campaigns and Activities taking place around Great Britain.
SAMM, Liverpool,
8 December 2005
Families of murder victims are teaching primary school children about
the consequences of gun crime to turn them away from a life of
violence. SAMM, the charity supporting the victims of families
of murder and manslaughter, are putting together a complete education
package which can be shown to children of all ages (Daily Post,
8 December 2005).
Football in Nottingham, 23 November 2005
A
special football team is being set up in a bid to turn young people
away from gun crime in Nottingham. Players from inner-city
areas, with long-standing rivalries, are joining forces to play a game
Ilkeston Town. The players will all wear black armbands as a
tribute to Nottingham's victims of gun crime (BBC, 1 November
2005).
Calling the Shots, London, 2
November 2005
Calling the Shots is an educational initiative which aims to
encourage young people in London to develop a positive lifestyle away
from violence and gun crime. It was officially launched by the
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. More than 300 secondary
schools have been sent multi-media packs (BBC, 2 November
2005).
The Ends, South London, 25
October 2005
A
group of South London children have launched a film about gun crime to
MPs and the press. The Ends, a five minute film, was
written and directed by a group aged between 10 and 18, their aim to
highlight the horror of violent crime. It won the best short
film award at the Raindance Film Festival. The film will be
shown in schools around South London (BBC Newsround, 25 October
2005).
Don't Trigger Campaign EP, 3
October 2005
A
record with a powerful anti-gun crime message will be released on 3
October. Featuring the tracks 'Why?', 'Heads Up (Listen Up' and
'I Die Everyday (R.I.P J) you can buy this EP and be part of the solution:
all proceeds go to charities and community initiatives dealing with
tackling gun crime. More details about the campaign can be found on the
Don't
Trigger website.
Not Another Drop Rally, Brent, 10
September 2005
Families of shooting victims marched with police through the streets
of Brent, demanding an end to gun crime in the area and appealing for
information about the deaths. The marchers sang joyful hymns
along the route of the march which was a celebration of the lives of
the loved ones lost (BBC, 10 September 2005).
Sound Proof Vibe Lick, Leicester,
16,
22 and 23 August 2005
Special music workshops have been organised to try and teach
youngsters the dangers of gun crime through hip hop and dance.
It is hoped the workshops will provide frank and open discussion about
gun crime (BBC, 16 August 2005).
"Let's Talk", Bristol,
July 2005
An
initiative to tackle the involvement of young people in gang and gun
culture is spreading into schools with the help of vibe fm, a local
radio station. The project is funded by the Peace Alliance and
facilitated by vive fm and The Bristol Gang Awareness Project and is
part of the Communities Against Guns initiative (Avon and Somerset
Constabulary, 5 July 2005).
"Blood on Their Hands" Cinema Advert, London,
July 2005
A
hard-hitting cinema advertising campaign was launched at the Ritzy
Cinema in Brixton and was due to be shown in cinemas around London,
particularly in those boroughs worst affected by gun crime. It focuses
on the guilt people will feel if they donoth8ing about gun crime.
Detective Chief Superintendent John Coles, head of Trident, said "This
is not just about targeting the people who are directly involved, it
is also about raising awareness among others that this is going on" (BBC,
4 July 2005).
Value Life, Tottenham,
24 June 2005
Gladesmore Community School in Tottenham, north London, are organising
their second March for Peace. Over 500 students will gather at
the School at 9.30 am and will be marching to Tottenham Hotspur FC's
Whites in Paxton Road where guest speakers will include Lucy Cope from
Mothers Against Guns and the Reverend Nimms from The Peace Alliance.
Students will be holding a Balloon Release for Peace (approx.11.15am)
before the rally where they will be releasing 500 balloons in memory
of the victims of Gun and Knife Violence. For more information
call 0208 800 0884 (during school hours). (BBC, 24 June 2005).
The event was reported in the Hornsey & Crouch End Journal (29
June 2005).
Memorial Service, Birmingham Cathedral,
3 June 2005
A
service to remember West Midlands victims of gun crime was held at St
Philip's Cathedral in Birmingham. The congregation was addressed
by the Bishop of Birmingham, Dr Maureen Cain from the British Society
of Criminologists and campaigner Gleen Reed, whose son was a victim of
gun crime. (BBC, 3 June 2005)
March for Anton Hyman, Acton,
14 May 2005
A
march was held in memory of Anton Hyman who was stabbed and shot to
death last year. His body was found in the River Brent in
Greenford. Anton's parents were joined by groups including
Mothers Against Guns and Mothers Against Murder and Aggression.
Why CD, 28 April 2005
As
part of the Don't Trigger Campaign, politicians, celebrities
and grass roots organisations are invited to City Hall London on the
morning of 28 April to support the launch of the Why CD. Contact
Urban Concepts (020 7091 7467). The CD will be released on 3
October
and more details about the campaign can be found on the
Don't
Trigger website.
Gospel against Gun Crime, Harlesden,
24 April 2005
Patsy
Hopwood, whose son was shot dead two years ago, has organised a
special concert in memory of gun crime victims. The event will
be held at Dreams Nightclub in Harlesden and will feature an evening
of musical and spiritual entertainment.
Put Down Your Guns Let the Light Shine In,
April 2005
A
video featuring the Sugababes, Asher D, Big Brovaz, Maxi Priest and
Kele Le Roc has been filmed in south London by Northwood Productions
as part of a nationwide Government-backed gun amnesty to place in
April.
If You Don't Need It, Get Shot of It,
Scotland, March 2005
following the death of Andrew Morton, Scotland's Justice Minister
Cathy Jamieson launched a campaign urging airgun owners to hand in
their guns to police across Scotland. The campaign leaflet
outlined the law as it stands at present on airguns and urges anyone
who is concerned about a legal weapon in their possession to hand it
in. With respect to further legislation she said that she wanted
"nothing ruled in or out at this stage".
Brixton Shall Be Saved,
Lambeth, 12 March 2005
A
multi-faith forum and music event was due to take place at Lambeth
Town Hall. Speakers included Chief Superintendent Martin
Bridger, Lucy Cope of Mothers Against Guns and Les Isaac of
campaigners Street Pastors. The event was aimed at letting young
people know the dangers they face when involved in any sort of guns
and to highlight the fact that to turn away from guns is cool" said
Chief Inspector Ian Thomas, borough commander of Southwark police.
CARISMA Lantern Parade, Manchester,
4 March 2005
A
lantern parade aimed at getting feuding gangs in Longsight and Moss
Side to put down their guns was organised by Carisma (Community
Alliance for Renewal, Inner South Manchester Area) which has
campaigned against gang violence in the past.
Peace Tour,
Various Locations, from March 2005
The
Peace Tour will involve concerts in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds,
Liverpool and London and will start in Nottingham on March 3.
Organisers hope to organise a gun amnesty when weapon-toting
youngsters can hand over their firearms. Gleen Reid of Mothers Against
Guns said "This would be a new way of getting weapons off the streets.
It'll work because it will be our way of appealing to those who carry
weapons".
Windrush Square Brixton,
February 2005
An
anti-gun rally held in Brixton has created a new spirit of cooperation
to combat gun crime according to community leaders. Over two
hundred people attended the rally which followed the shooting dead of
Solomon Martin. Solomon's father Steve aka Blacker Dread was
among those who addressed the crowd.
IMPACT, Hammersmith and Fulham,
February 2005
IMPACT was established in February 2002 by concerned community members
in response to the rise in gun and violent crime across Hammersmith
and Fulham Borough. In February it launched its newsletter to
provide information on its goals and provide an update on recent news.
Contact IMPACT at
info@impacthf.co.uk.
A website is coming soon.
Alliance for Talent Against Crime,
Croydon, January 2005
A new
campaign to fight gun violence was launched by the owner of a club in
Croydon where a triple shooting left two men dead in October 2004.
The project was launched by a concert at the Fairfield. Nelson
King hopes the campaign will "break fresh ground in bringing about
positive and lasting change to the sub-culture of drugs, knives, guns
and violence within communities nationally".
Amnesty Day, Nottingham, 8 January
2005
Following the tragic death of Danielle Beccan in Nottingham in October
a live show with an anti-gun and crime theme is being arranged for
Nottingham and its people. Details are available on a
web site.
Nottingham, 1 December 2004
"Not in Nottingham, Not in MY City"
was launched in Nottingham a few weeks after the death of teenager
Danielle Beccan. The launch was attended by Danielle's
former headteacher and is backed by sportsmen Carl Froch and Des
Walker. The campaign involved an amnesty in which guns can be
handed into four police stations over a period of two weeks.
Nottinghamshire police were disappointed
with the response in which only 40 weapons were handed in.
However, Carl Froch said that "It is not a massive number but on the
bright side - one less gun on the streets is a bonus".
CARISMA,
November 2004
Community Alliance for Renewal, Inner South Manchester Area, has been
celebrating two years of good work in steering young people away from
gun crime. The community group was set up in 2002 after a peace
march which called for a truce between rival gun gangs in South
Manchester.
Mothers Against Violence March - Leeds,
August 2004
In
August hundreds of mums walked through Leeds to protest at gun crime
in the City. The march was led by Pat Regan whose son Danny was
a victim of gun crime. He was killed when he was shot with three
bullets. Women travelled from all over the country to march.
Don't Shoot,
June 2004
Chris
Bailey, an international record producer, has founded the Don't Shoot
initiative which campaigns in schools to end gun crime. He
joined London's Deputy Mayor Jenny Jones outside Lewisham police
station to call for a ban on replica guns.
Rap, Poetry and Breakdance - Albany Theatre, Deptford,
April 2004
Hip-hop artists
took to the stage to raise awareness about gun crime.
Sistaz Against Guns - Damilola Taylor Centre, Peckham,
5 March 2004
This event, funded
by the Disarm Trust, was conceived to raise awareness of the dangers
of gun crime. Teenagers were invited to the event, organised
by Carla Campbell of Peckham, to see rappers, singers, MCs, dancers
and poets.
"I hope to bring
this showcase to other parts of the country and help work towards
making positive changes" (Carla Campbell)
Anti-Gun Declaration - Twickenham Civic Centre,
5 March 2004
A pledge board to
support the Metropolitan Police's campaign against gun crime is
visiting London town halls throughout March and April. Among
the first to sign the board were the Mayor of Richmond-upon-Thames
and the Council Leader, and the Bishop of Kensington.
'How I Wonder'
Concert for Alistair - Dunfermline,
29 February 2004
A Memorial concert
was held for Scottish toddler Alistair Grimason who was shot dead in
a cafe whilst on holiday in Turkey. His parents have to attend
the trial of the man responsible for the killing, and the proceeds
from the concert will help pay for their travel to Turkey during the
trial. Ex-Deacon Blue singer Ricky Ross and Scottish bands The
Proclaimers and The Pearlfishers performed at the one-off gig in
the Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline.
"The possession and
use of guns only leads to tragedy. Everyone would be happier
without them" (Ricky Ross)
"We hope the
concert can serve as a rallying point for people concerned about the
misuse of firearms across Europe" (Proclaimers)
"David and Özlem
have somehow managed to find strength to wage a powerful and
persuasive campaign against Turkey's insane gun laws" (David Scott,
Pearlfishers)
National Conference - Birmingham,
20 January 2004
The Home Office
sponsored a national two-day forum on gun culture, attended by over
100 delegates including representatives from the community and
voluntary sector, young people, law enforcement and policy-makers.
Among those there were parents whose children were victims of gun
crime. Home Office Minister Caroline Flint, who addressed the
conference, spoke about the tough sentences and new controls on air
weapons and imitation guns that were about to come in force.
Westminster Cathedral, 15 January
2004
Over 1000 people
attended the Hope Against Violence service in remembrance for
victims of gun crime. The service, attended by Home Secretary
David Blunkett, was organised by the Trident Independent Advisory
Group, part of a London-based police initiative to combat violent
crime in the black community.
Red Cross
Officials will give
lessons in the Moss Side and Hulme areas of Manchester on how to
administer basic first-aid to gunshot victims as part of an initiative
to reduce gun crime and its effects. Hard hitting anti-gun
posters, stickers and leaflets - featuring a picture of a gun with a
smoking barrel and the street slang slogan 'No Smoking In Our
Community' - are being distributed by voluntary groups.
Shops and Markets
Wakefield, December 2005
Police have blamed the easy availability
of BB guns for a rise in gun crime in Wakefield. The rise has
occurred since market stall holders started selling them from as
little as £10. Police response teams were being deployed more
than three times a day. A police spokesman said that whilst
those selling the weapons were not committing an offence they were
being irresponsible. People who have bought them for Christmas
were asked to consider whether they should give an imitation gun as
a present (Wakefield Today, 21 December 2005).
Tameside, November 2005
Pupils at St Mary's Primary School in
Denton chose to discuss ball bearing guns as their contribution to
local democracy week. During the discussion it emerged that a
local shop was quite happy to sell BB guns to kids. The
information was passed to trading standards who investigated the
shop. The guns have now been taken off sale (Tameside
Advertiser, 30 November 2005).
Merseyside, November 2005
The Liverpool Echo reported that
imitation guns which can be converted into deadly weapons were being
sold on Merseyside. One store was selling a deactivated World
War II Bren machine gun which firearms experts said could be
reactivated and then used to kill. The paper had been alerted
about the store by concerned residents in Tuebrook. Several
other stores were selling blank-firing pistols which could be
converted to fire live bullets. Tuebrook MP Bob Wareing said
that "there needs to be a change in the law so these things cannot
be sold legally. Ultimately there is a very real risk to
public safety" (Liverpool Echo, 7 November 2005).
High Wycombe,
August 2005
Traders
have welcomed a ban on the sale of replica guns in High Wycombe market.
The BB guns had been on sale at two toy stalls. Wycombe District
Council implemented the ban, and Roy Bagley, secretary of the market
traders, commented "Some of these guns are too lifelike. In the hands
of unscrupulous young men or women they could be brandished round in the
street" (Bucks Free Press, 13 August 2005).
High Peak, Derbyshire,
July 2005
Retailers
are being encouraged to stop selling replica guns in a joint campaign
involving the police and Derbyshire County Council. In Derbyshire more
that 80 percent of firearm incidents dealt with by police involve BB guns of
replicas. This part of a county wide Gunsafe initiative (Buxton
Today, 19 July 2005).
Barnsley Council, June 2005
In response
to complaints by parents that their children had been able to buy knives and
imitations firearms from Barnsley Central Market, Barnsley Council has
decided that no trader will be licensed to sell airguns, air rifles,
imitation guns with projectile ammunition, BB guns, crossbows, swords or
inappropriate knives on the market. (Dearne Today, 23 June 2005).
Worksop, 13 May 2005
The Worksop
Guardian reported that lethal airguns were being sold in the toy
section of a local shop for just £1. Despite the shop
displaying a sign which read "These guns cannot be sold to anyone
under the age of 16. No proof of age - no sale" a 15-year-old
boy on work experience with the newspaper purchased one of the guns
unchallenged (Worksop Today, 13 May 2005).
Lambeth Council, 5 April 2005
Shopkeepers in Lambeth are being urged to sign a code of
practice preventing replica weapons being converted into lethal
weapons. Two community protection officers have started
work on a voluntary code of practice which would lead to the
banishing of replica guns. Diminishing stocks should not
be replaced and there should be strict enforcement of only
selling to over-18s and not selling replicas at "toy" prices.
(Streatham Guardian, 5 April 2005).
Glasgow Council, 10 March 2005
In October 2004 Glasgow City
Council ruled that stallholders in city markers would no longer
be allowed to trade in vintage weapons including guns, knives
and swords. One Barras Market stallholder, Andrew Stephen,
appealed to the licensing committee in a bid to gain an
exemption from the new rule. He said that the guns he sold
were professionally de-activated and impossible to reactive.
Councillors refused his plea.
(Evening Times, 10 March 2005).
Epping Forest Guardian, December 2004
Following their purchase of a realistic looking BB gun (an M31
Sport Pistol) for £2 at a market at North Weald Airfield the
Epping Forest Guardian has launched a Ban the BB
Campaign. The market operator Hughmark International has
decided to introduce a total ban on BB guns at all of the 20
markets that it runs across the country. Hughmark
International's financial director would like to see a
Government-backed total ban on their sale.
Stockport,
December 2004
Stockport in one area where police and
trading standards officers are visiting retailers who sell knives
and other offensive weapons to warn about the harsh consequences of
breaking the law. (Stockport Express, 21 December 2004)
Leicestershire Police and Leicester Council,
May 2004
A voluntary code of
practice has been launched to restrict the sale of replica firearms
in Leicester. Nine shops identified as selling replicas in the
city have agreed to sign up to the code. Another 66 traders
and six wholesalers, who supply fake guns to shops, have also added
their name to the pledge. See
photograph.
Press Campaigns
South London Press - Ban 'Em
- July 2005
An article by Ben
Ashford described how three thugs were able to rob and terrorise six
victims in two days in September 2004 with nothing more than a
replica gun. The paper is trying to convince every South
Londoner of the need to ban imitation weapons now. The paper
published a coupon for readers to complete to express support for
the laws proposed in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill (icSouth
London, 8 July 2005).
Nottingham Evening Post - No Fake Guns
- January 2005
The paper continues with the campaign
it launched in November 2003 which has the support of a number of
East Midlands MPs and senior police officers who are frustrated by
the lack of action by the Home Office. The campaign calls on
the Home Office to outlaw the manufacture, sale and importing of
fake firearms.
Epping Forest Guardian - Ban the BB, December 2004
Following their purchase of a realistic looking BB gun (an M31
Sport Pistol) for £2 at a market at North Weald Airfield the
Epping Forest Guardian has launched a Ban the BB
Campaign. The market operator Hughmark International has
decided to introduce a total ban on BB guns at all of the 20
markets that it runs across the country. Hughmark
International's financial director would like to see a
Government-backed total ban on their sale.
Waltham Forest Guardian - Guns R4 Losers,
November 2004
Readers are being
invited to join the paper in a petition to ban the sale of replica
and realistic toy guns. Their intention is to present the
petition to Parliament with the help of the local MPs in Waltham
Forest and Stratford. The petition is launched following the
discovery of realistic toy guns on sale on a stall in Walthamstow
market. Support was offered by Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard,
West Ham and Stratford MP Tony Banks and the MP for Leyton Harry
Cohen. Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford seemed more
reticent to offer support, saying that he wanted to have more
detailed evidence and to speak to the police before talking to the
Government.
Sunderland Echo,
21 February 2004
The Sunderland Echo's front page carried the headlines "FAKE OR
REAL? Could you tell? BAN THEM NOW!" supporting a ban on
imitation guns. A reporter had been able to buy three fake
guns (two replica handguns, one Uzi-style weapon) at different shops
within 10 minutes drive of the paper's offices. Although the
police announced that they'd jail anyone brandishing such a weapon
it is still not illegal to sell them.
In May 2002
the Echo had launched a campaign to outlaw Wearside’s fastest-growing, and potentially deadly, crime
craze – the widespread use of air weapons. Armed police
respond to 10 reported airgun attacks in the North East every week,
according to the latest figures. The Echo has joined forces
with Sunderland Council, city MP Chris Mullin and campaigners to
lobby Home Secretary David Blunkett into changing the law on owning
the dangerous weapons.
The campaign read:
‘To the House of Commons. This petition of residents of
the city of Sunderland declares that stricter legislation and
licensing of air guns is needed to safeguard the public. The
petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons pass
legislation to restrict the purchase, ownership, hire, possession
and use of air guns and ammunition to persons aged 17 years and
over, and to establish a comprehensive and strictly enforceable
firearms licensing system for the secure storage and transport of
air guns for all owners and users’
Local Initiatives
West Dunbartonshire, September 2005
West Dunbartonshire Council has written
to 31 other local authorities to seek support for an outright ban on
airguns. MSPs and MPs will also be asked to back the call which
urges the UK government to take immediate action (Evening Times,
23 September 2005).
Kilburn, February 2005
Leaflets are being sent to homes in
south Kilburn and posters put up in the same area to urge residents
to tip off the police about anyone they know who owns an illegal
firearm. The leaflets are headlined "Could you save somebody's
life?" It is part of Crime Concern's Safe and Sound campaign.
Brixton, October 2004
Shop owners are to come under police
pressure to stop selling replica guns. In the last year the
number of shops selling fake guns in and around Brixton has fallen
from 27 to 3. The police will write to the remaining three
shop owners asking them to stop selling guns.
Choose Life, Leicester,
September 2004
A project which has received
funding from the Home Office will help deliver an anti-gun message
to youths in Leicester.
Crimestoppers,
20 to 26 September 2004
A national initiative against gun crime
has been launched in London ahead of the annual Crimestoppers Week.
London Borough of Hounslow,
May 2004
Residents were being urged to make a
stand against gun crime by signing an anti-gun declaration at
Hounslow Civic Centre. A giant declaration board and smaller
pledge boards were on display. Pledge boards were also sent to
every secondary school in the borough. All the signatures
collected will be presented at the 2004 Gun Crime conference in
December.
The London Anti-Gun Declaration states:
We, the undersigned, reject gun
violence in our society.
We stand together against gun crime.
We call upon all Londoners to work with us to help rid our city of
the evil of guns
We call on those carrying guns to
give them up, and, like us, turn away from violence.
Leicestershire Police and Leicester Council,
May 2004
A voluntary code of
practice has been launched to restrict the sale of replica firearms
in Leicester. Nine shops identified as selling replicas in the
city have agreed to sign up to the code. Another 66 traders
and six wholesalers, who supply fake guns to shops, have also added
their name to the pledge.
In the absence of any apparent willingness on
the part of the Government to introduce measures to restrict the sale of
replica guns, the initiative launched in Leicester in May is to be greatly
welcomed.
Gun Safe is a voluntary code of
practice which attempts to restrict the sale of replica firearms and 'BB'
guns with the appearance of firearms. It is a partnership involving
Leicester City Council and Leicestershire Constabulary. It invites
responsible traders to enter into an agreement not to sell realistic
replica and toy guns that could be used recklessly or with criminal
intent.
GCN is encouraging other authorities to
instigate similar initiatives, but hopes that even without this
shopkeepers will take a far more responsible approach to selling objects
which are making an increasingly worrying contribution to crime around the
country.
Representatives of Leicester City Council and
Leicestershire Constabulary launch Gun Safe - from the Leicester City
Council website
Police Campaigns
Cleveland
Police, November 2005
A two-week weapons amnesty on Teesside
resulted in more than 500 rounds of ammunition, five rifles, eight
pistols, nine revolvers, seven BB guns, three shotguns, six air
rifles and two air pistols being handed in.
South Yorkshire
Police, November 2005
Operation Mantra 2, launched by South
Yorkshire Police on 21 November, encourages people to hand in
weapons. The two-week long hand-in is part of the Force's
autumn violent crime initiative. The aim is to collect ball
bearing guns, imitation firearms and knives. Superintendent Keith
Lumley said that the stark message is 'Carry a gun ... you're the
target.' (South Yorkshire Police Press Release, 16 November 2005).
Sussex
Police, September 2005
Sussex Police are the latest force to
launch a crackdown on imitation guns after the number of offences
rose from 29 in 2003 to 98 during 2004. Operation Holster
will educate children about the danger of the weapons and make it
harder for people to get hold of them. Trading Standards and
Sussex Police have written to traders across the county, asking them
not to sell the guns, or if they cannot agree to that for commercial
reasons, only to sell them to over-18s (BBC,
12 September 2005).
North Yorkshire
Police, April 2005
Youngsters are being warned in a police
campaign about the dangers of replica guns. They are being
reminded the guns pose a danger if misused and armed officers can
find it hard to determine if the guns are genuine or imitations (BBC,
29 April 2005).
Merseyside
Police, April 2005
More than 600 people in Merseyside have
been arrested in a massive initiative which police claim has cut gun
crime in Liverpool by more than a quarter. A team dedicated to
ridding the streets of drug and gang-related gun crime, codenamed
Matrix, becomes fully operational later this month but has been
working behind closed doors since December 2004. In the first
three months of 2005 there were 97 firearms-related incidents
compared with 133 in the same period in 2004 (Daily Post, 15
April 2005).
South
Wales, March 2005
In evidence to the Welsh Affairs
Committee Chief Constable Barbara Wilding told MPs that Operation
Tarian, which involves a crackdown against serious and organised
crime, had prevented drive-by shootings spreading to the area (South
Wales Echo, 23 March 2005).
Lambeth,
March 2005
Chief Superintendent Martin Bridger has
handed out his own phone number with the plea "Call me 24 hours a
day and tell me who the gunman are." Speaking at an event at
Lambeth Town Hall Chief Superintendent Bridger, borough commander
for Lambeth, said that he believed the step would provide police
with the vital intelligence to make a breakthrough in the war on gun
crime. His hotline number will be distributed on flyers and
sandwich boards. The number is 0800 587 4539. (South London
Press, 15 March 2005)
Flintshire,
February 2005
Inspector Phil Hare warned that the law
must be changed to allow officers to deal with the problem of
imitation firearms. He said it was senseless to have a
loophole in the law which allows imitation guns to be sold but not
carried in public. He said the loophole is complicating the
situation for officers who have problems telling the difference
between real guns and fakes (reported in the Wrexham
Evening Leader, 10 February 2005).
Cleveland Police,
February 2005
Police have warned parents to hammer
home airgun safety messages to their children. A code has been
issued for people who want to shoot on their property. A
spokesman said that even if a teenager was caught in public with an
air weapon or BB gun the response would be the same - a
confrontation with fully-armed police officers.
South Yorkshire Police,
February 2005
Police are targeting a month-long
weapons amnesty at youngsters. Posters and leaflets are to be
distributed warning about the dangers of taking toy guns onto the
street and officers will be collecting ball bearing guns, imitation
firearms and knives. Weapons can be handed in at any of six
main police stations in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and
Rotherham.
Metropolitan Police (Operation Trident),
October 2004
Stop the Guns is a new campaign
to stamp out gun crime among London's black communities. The
family of Pauline Peart, an innocent victim of a fatal shooting in
Tottenham in 2003, joined police to make a powerful radio
advertisement.
Lewisham, October 2004
Operation Vezere, involving 700
police officers was targeted at gun and gun crime in the London
Borough. Chief Superintendent Archie Torrance said: "Reducing
gun crime is a priority for Lewisham Police". In 2003/4
Lewisham's gun crime increased more than in any other London
borough.
Avon and Somerset Police,
20
September 2004
A Communities Against Guns day was
organised at police headquarters in Portishead. Community
groups were joining police and politicians to examine the problem of
gun crime in Bristol.
Bedfordshire Police,
September 2004
Police announced a week-long firearms
amnesty and are hoping that air weapons and ball bearing guns will
be handed in.
Calderdale,
June 2004
A crackdown on airguns was launched by
police in Calderdale. Police warmed about the consequences of
possessing self-contained air cartridge guns without having a
firearms certificate.
Leicestershire Police and Leicester Council,
May 2004
A voluntary code of
practice has been launched to restrict the sale of replica firearms
in Leicester. Nine shops identified as selling replicas in the
city have agreed to sign up to the code. Another 66 traders
and six wholesalers, who supply fake guns to shops, have also added
their name to the pledge.
North Wales Police,
April 2004
Operation Target
aimed to raise awareness of the change in the law which makes it an
offence to possess a gas cartridge air weapon without a full
firearms certificate and also to urge owners who have not applied
for a certificate to hand their guns into the police. The
Operation was supported by GCN's Jayne Atkinson.
Nottinghamshire Police,
April 2004
Nottinghamshire
Police have launched a controversial campaign in which gun criminals
are "named and shamed" in posters. The poster is entitled "No
such thing as untouchable"
Merseyside Police,
April 2004
Police chiefs are devising a strategy to
crack down on illegal gun factories in Merseyside. The police
showed a store of firearms seized after the arrests of three me who
had set up their own gun factories, turning imitation firearms into
illegal weapons.
2003
Greater Manchester Police,
September 2003
The police have launched Operation Bradford after a number of
incidents in the south Manchester and Trafford areas.
Metropolitan Police,
August 2003
According to the BBC, five London boroughs plagued by high gun crime
are to be targeted in an advertising campaign. It will
encourage people to shop gun-toting criminals. The boroughs
involved are Brent, Hackney, Haringey, Lambeth and Southwark.
The campaign is being run by Operation Trident.
West Midlands
Police, August 2003
In the West Midlands the police have an anti-gun crime initiative
Operation Ventara. It entails high profile patrols and
increased armed stops and searches.
Derbyshire Constabulary BB Gun Campaign,
2003
Derbyshire police have launched a campaign to discourage the
carrying of BB guns. The campaign includes radio
announcements, posters (You might feel cool carrying a BB gun ...
But you're safer without it) and a web page. The latter
highlights the fears to the public raised by the carrying of these
guns and the dangers that arise. A similar scheme will be
adopted by Bedfordshire police.
Sussex Constabulary, 2003
Sussex police are
running Operation Holster, a drive to reduce the use of imitation
firearms, air weapons and ball bearing guns. At one event
water pistols were offered in exchange for BB guns. A four
hour amnesty netted nearly 50 weapons including 44 BB guns and an
imitation rifle.
Nottingham Evening Post, 17 November
2003
After a number of
terrifying incidents the Evening Post has been campaigning for a ban
on replica firearms under the slogan of No Fake Guns. The
campaign has received the support of police, politicians and the
public.
2002
