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Rise in police guns operations | Rise in police guns operations |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The number of firearms operations rose by almost a fifth last year in police forces in England and Wales. | The number of firearms operations rose by almost a fifth last year in police forces in England and Wales. |
The Home Office figures show there were 21,181 authorised operations in the year to 31 March 2008, a rise of 17.5%. | The Home Office figures show there were 21,181 authorised operations in the year to 31 March 2008, a rise of 17.5%. |
Officers fired weapons seven times - up from three incidents the year before, but still fewer times than in 2001. | |
The figures show a drop in firearms operations in some police areas commonly believed to have significant gun crime problems. | The figures show a drop in firearms operations in some police areas commonly believed to have significant gun crime problems. |
The Metropolitan Police had the greatest number of operations in which firearms were authorised - 4,948. They were followed by the West Midlands with 2,350. Cumbria had the fewest operations - 92. | The Metropolitan Police had the greatest number of operations in which firearms were authorised - 4,948. They were followed by the West Midlands with 2,350. Cumbria had the fewest operations - 92. |
Bedfordshire saw 1,217 authorised armed operations in 2007-08 - up from 311 in 2003-04. Over the same period, the force's recorded gun crime offences hovered between 80 and 100 offences a year. | Bedfordshire saw 1,217 authorised armed operations in 2007-08 - up from 311 in 2003-04. Over the same period, the force's recorded gun crime offences hovered between 80 and 100 offences a year. |
Concentration of cases | Concentration of cases |
More than half of all recorded gun crime occurs in just three police areas - Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the Metropolitan Police. | More than half of all recorded gun crime occurs in just three police areas - Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the Metropolitan Police. |
The number of armed operations in the West Midlands rose from 822 in 2001-02 to 2,350 in 2007-08 - even though the number of recorded offences fell. | The number of armed operations in the West Midlands rose from 822 in 2001-02 to 2,350 in 2007-08 - even though the number of recorded offences fell. |
The figures show the number of operations fell in Greater Manchester - as well as in Merseyside and Nottinghamshire, two other areas widely associated in the past with gun crime. | The figures show the number of operations fell in Greater Manchester - as well as in Merseyside and Nottinghamshire, two other areas widely associated in the past with gun crime. |
Greater Manchester Police authorised 580 armed operations in 2001-02 and 497 in 2007-08. Merseyside's operations dropped from 1,020 to 829 and Nottinghamshire's to 270, from a high of 459 in 2003-04. | Greater Manchester Police authorised 580 armed operations in 2001-02 and 497 in 2007-08. Merseyside's operations dropped from 1,020 to 829 and Nottinghamshire's to 270, from a high of 459 in 2003-04. |
New ballistics service | New ballistics service |
The figures come as the Home Secretary opened a new firearms forensics centre in Manchester to help police to match weapons to crimes. | The figures come as the Home Secretary opened a new firearms forensics centre in Manchester to help police to match weapons to crimes. |
The National Ballistics Intelligence Service has three regional bases, with the Manchester unit serving forces in northern England. | |
Since Nabis became available in November 2008, Greater Manchester Police has submitted 113 cases to it. | |
Seven of these were confirmed by the service to have links to a number of other cases. | Seven of these were confirmed by the service to have links to a number of other cases. |
A recently recovered gun was this week found to be linked to four firearm incidents in the county over the past two years. | A recently recovered gun was this week found to be linked to four firearm incidents in the county over the past two years. |
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