This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6367301.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fatal shooting probes continuing | Fatal shooting probes continuing |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair will meet Home Secretary John Reid to discuss the fatal shootings of three teenagers in south London. | Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair will meet Home Secretary John Reid to discuss the fatal shootings of three teenagers in south London. |
| Sir Ian has set up a new task force, including armed officers on the streets, after three youths were shot dead in the past two weeks. | Sir Ian has set up a new task force, including armed officers on the streets, after three youths were shot dead in the past two weeks. |
| He said his force was "determined" to prevent the situation from escalating. | He said his force was "determined" to prevent the situation from escalating. |
| The move comes after 15-year-old Billy Cox was shot dead in his home in Clapham North on Wednesday. | The move comes after 15-year-old Billy Cox was shot dead in his home in Clapham North on Wednesday. |
| Sir Ian has already spoken to Mr Reid about lowering the age limit from 21 to 17 for the five-year mandatory sentence for carrying guns. | Sir Ian has already spoken to Mr Reid about lowering the age limit from 21 to 17 for the five-year mandatory sentence for carrying guns. |
| The Home Office is "not unsympathetic" to this view, a spokesman said. | The Home Office is "not unsympathetic" to this view, a spokesman said. |
| Mr Reid will also meet MPs to discuss the shootings, while community leaders, advisory groups and representatives of the London mayor will gather at Scotland Yard. | Mr Reid will also meet MPs to discuss the shootings, while community leaders, advisory groups and representatives of the London mayor will gather at Scotland Yard. |
| Some of these young people have got very little connection to stable community lives Sir Ian Blair 'We knew it would erupt' Cameron urges control | Some of these young people have got very little connection to stable community lives Sir Ian Blair 'We knew it would erupt' Cameron urges control |
| The new task force will run alongside Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime in London's African-Caribbean community. | |
| Meanwhile a conference is being held on Friday in East Ham, east London, to look at the root cause of gun crime in black and ethnic minority communities. | |
| Young people, community leaders, and the Metropolitan Police are among those expected to attend to discuss how it can be tackled. | |
| Gun crime in London has fallen by 14% in the past year, Sir Ian said, before admitting this was "no comfort to the families involved in the murders". | |
| Billy Cox was discovered by his 12-year-old sister when she came home from school. | Billy Cox was discovered by his 12-year-old sister when she came home from school. |
| She had returned with a school friend when they heard a bang. Shortly afterwards they found Billy, who had been shot. | She had returned with a school friend when they heard a bang. Shortly afterwards they found Billy, who had been shot. |
| Her friend tried to administer first aid and emergency services were called. | Her friend tried to administer first aid and emergency services were called. |
| Paramedics tried to resuscitate the teenager but he was pronounced dead at the scene. | Paramedics tried to resuscitate the teenager but he was pronounced dead at the scene. |
| Officers at the scene said the back door of the house was open and there was no sign of forced entry. | Officers at the scene said the back door of the house was open and there was no sign of forced entry. |
| See a map of the shootings | See a map of the shootings |
| On 6 February, 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu was shot dead in the bedroom of his Peckham home. A man has been arrested in connection with the killing. | On 6 February, 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu was shot dead in the bedroom of his Peckham home. A man has been arrested in connection with the killing. |
| Three days earlier, 16-year-old James Andre Smartt-Ford died after he was shot at Streatham Ice Arena. | Three days earlier, 16-year-old James Andre Smartt-Ford died after he was shot at Streatham Ice Arena. |
| Also in February, Javarie Crighton, 21, was stabbed to death in Southampton Way, Peckham, on 3 February, and Chamberlain Igwemba, 47, was shot in nearby Clayton Road less than 24 hours later. | Also in February, Javarie Crighton, 21, was stabbed to death in Southampton Way, Peckham, on 3 February, and Chamberlain Igwemba, 47, was shot in nearby Clayton Road less than 24 hours later. |
| Guns become 'status symbol' Police fight back against guns | Guns become 'status symbol' Police fight back against guns |
| "There was no evidence that all of these crimes are linked," Sir Ian said. | "There was no evidence that all of these crimes are linked," Sir Ian said. |
| But he added: "There are some evidential leads that link some of them. | But he added: "There are some evidential leads that link some of them. |
| "What they are is entirely unacceptable to the communities of London." | "What they are is entirely unacceptable to the communities of London." |
| He added that a "new trend" was emerging of teenagers being involved in killings and serious violent crime. | He added that a "new trend" was emerging of teenagers being involved in killings and serious violent crime. |
| A number of factors were behind it, he said, only some of which were to do with policing. | A number of factors were behind it, he said, only some of which were to do with policing. |
| The lack of role models in some households is an issue, he admitted. | The lack of role models in some households is an issue, he admitted. |
| "Some of these young people have got very little connection to stable community lives," he added. | "Some of these young people have got very little connection to stable community lives," he added. |
| Sir Ian said there was a growing recognition in the force about the proportion of young people now involved in serious crime. | Sir Ian said there was a growing recognition in the force about the proportion of young people now involved in serious crime. |
| TEENAGE SHOOTINGS 1. 14 Feb: Billy Cox, 15, shot dead at his home 2. 6 Feb: Michael Dosunmu, 15, shot dead at his home3. 3 Feb: James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, dies after being shot at the Streatham Ice Arena | TEENAGE SHOOTINGS 1. 14 Feb: Billy Cox, 15, shot dead at his home 2. 6 Feb: Michael Dosunmu, 15, shot dead at his home3. 3 Feb: James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, dies after being shot at the Streatham Ice Arena |
| Return to link | Return to link |
Have you been affected by gun crime? If you have anything you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. Your messages will not be published. | Have you been affected by gun crime? If you have anything you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. Your messages will not be published. |