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| Police patrol gun murder streets | Police patrol gun murder streets |
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| Armed police were again deployed on the streets of south London overnight in response to a string of gun killings. | Armed police were again deployed on the streets of south London overnight in response to a string of gun killings. |
| Patrols have been stepped up in Lambeth and Southwark following the murders of three teenagers in less than two weeks. | Patrols have been stepped up in Lambeth and Southwark following the murders of three teenagers in less than two weeks. |
| Operation Neon, mounted with the aim of stopping gun crime, involved officers searching suspicious vehicles. | |
| Earlier, the father of a 15-year-old boy shot dead in his home in Clapham on Wednesday asked the public for help in catching the killers. | Earlier, the father of a 15-year-old boy shot dead in his home in Clapham on Wednesday asked the public for help in catching the killers. |
| Tommy Cox said his 15-year-old son Billy was "not perfect" but he was "dearly loved as a son and brother". | Tommy Cox said his 15-year-old son Billy was "not perfect" but he was "dearly loved as a son and brother". |
| We need to make people face up to their responsibilities as parents and families John Reid Guns become 'status symbol' Police fight back against guns | We need to make people face up to their responsibilities as parents and families John Reid Guns become 'status symbol' Police fight back against guns |
| Billy was found dying by his sister, who had rushed inside the maisonette in Fenwick Place after hearing a "loud bang" just after 1530 GMT. | Billy was found dying by his sister, who had rushed inside the maisonette in Fenwick Place after hearing a "loud bang" just after 1530 GMT. |
| Elizabeth, 13, tried to administer first aid but could do nothing to save him, police said. Billy was later pronounced dead at the scene. | Elizabeth, 13, tried to administer first aid but could do nothing to save him, police said. Billy was later pronounced dead at the scene. |
| His shooting followed the deaths of James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, and Michael Dosunmu, 15, who were gunned down in Streatham and Peckham respectively. | His shooting followed the deaths of James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, and Michael Dosunmu, 15, who were gunned down in Streatham and Peckham respectively. |
| Tougher sentences | Tougher sentences |
| Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has set up a task force, which includes armed officers on the streets, in response to the shootings. | Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has set up a task force, which includes armed officers on the streets, in response to the shootings. |
| Officers spent the night stopping suspicious vehicles and mounting high profile patrols to reassure the public. | Officers spent the night stopping suspicious vehicles and mounting high profile patrols to reassure the public. |
| Home Secretary John Reid announced he was investigating handing out tougher sentences to tackle gun crime and gang culture. | Home Secretary John Reid announced he was investigating handing out tougher sentences to tackle gun crime and gang culture. |
| The problem lies within families and communities, and so does the solution David Cameron 'We knew it would erupt' Cameron urges control | The problem lies within families and communities, and so does the solution David Cameron 'We knew it would erupt' Cameron urges control |
| Mr Reid was speaking following a meeting with south London MPs, senior Scotland Yard officers and local government representatives. | Mr Reid was speaking following a meeting with south London MPs, senior Scotland Yard officers and local government representatives. |
| "I have also asked my lawyers to look at ways of possibly strengthening legislation and, where appropriate, sentencing," he said. | "I have also asked my lawyers to look at ways of possibly strengthening legislation and, where appropriate, sentencing," he said. |
| "We also need to make people face up to their responsibilities as parents and families and last but not least we need to empower local communities." | "We also need to make people face up to their responsibilities as parents and families and last but not least we need to empower local communities." |
| Conservative leader David Cameron, speaking at a youth organisation meeting in Oxfordshire, said the solution lay within families and communities. | Conservative leader David Cameron, speaking at a youth organisation meeting in Oxfordshire, said the solution lay within families and communities. |
| He said: "On the face of it, this is a law and order issue. But surely no-one imagines that we can stop crimes like this simply with better policing or better gun control." | He said: "On the face of it, this is a law and order issue. But surely no-one imagines that we can stop crimes like this simply with better policing or better gun control." |
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. |