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See other news storiesThree-point plan to tackle gun crime
22 February 2007
After a gun crime summit at 10 Downing Street, the government announces anti-violence plan.
Home Secretary John Reid has announced a three-point plan to tackle gun violence, and to keep teenagers from falling in with violent gangs.
The main elements of the plan are:
- tougher punishments for those who use other people to hide or store weapons
- improved technology that can link weapons to crimes
- more funding for community groups working in underprivileged areas
Reviewing weapons legislation
Alongside those measures, the Home Secretary also announced a review of legislation on gangs, guns and knives, with the intention of focusing particularly on laws regarding gangs.
The review could cover:
- sentencing
- gun sources
- gang membership
- new powers to help authorities
Working together
Dr Reid welcomed the creation of a London Youth Crime Prevention Board by the London Community Safety Partnership. The board will bring together the Metropolitan Police, local authorities, Youth Justice Board and community groups to tackle gun crime and gang activity.
The comprehensive approach will draw together a broad range of work already underway on:
- tough new gun laws
- intelligence-driven police work
- community-led projects
Creating a new offence
The government will introduce a new offence for 'using someone to mind a weapon' - aimed at prosecuting those who get family and friends to hide their guns and knives.
Dr Reid said, 'Gun crime is, thankfully, very rare in this country, but we are not complacent about the challenges we face in forcing home the message that carrying an illegal firearm is simply unacceptable.'
Despite the recent high-profile shootings in London, firearms offences actually fell by 14% in the 12 months leading up to September 2006. Violent crime has fallen by a third over the last 10 years, according to the British Crime Survey.
Gun crime accounts for one in every 250 crimes. About 6% of homicides in 2005-06 (50 in total) involved firearms.
'There is not a single, simple solution to keeping guns off our streets and our children out of harm's way,' he said. 'Contributions to this summit have made it clear that effective policing and tough penalties must go hand-in-hand with education, community action and the personal responsibility of young people themselves.'
Extending laws to 18-20s
He confirmed that he would lay a Parliamentary Order to ensure 18-20 year olds are subject to mandatory minimum five-year sentences, as over-21s are already.
The government will also ban the sale, manufacture and importation of realistic imitation firearms later this year.
