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Gun summit 'ineffective' - Tories Gun crime sentences up for review
(30 minutes later)
A Downing Street summit on gun crime will not tackle the root causes of the problem, the Conservatives have said. The government is considering making gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing, Home Secretary John Reid has said.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said gun crime stems from drugs and family break-ups - serious problems which will not be fixed by a "one-hour meeting". He also said ministers would clarify whether five-year minimum jail terms can be given to youths aged 18-21 for gun offences.
Tony Blair is meeting community workers and crime experts following a spate of fatal shootings of young people. He unveiled the ideas at a gun summit at 10 Downing Street which is looking at a wide-ranging review of gun crime.
The Conservatives said the summit will not tackle the causes of the problem.
The home secretary revealed a three point plan to tackle gun crime at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
It would include tough punishment for those who use other people to look after weapons, improved technology for linking weapons to incidents and increased funding for community groups.
'Child soldiers'
Mr Reid also announced a review of the legislation on gangs, guns and knives, focusing in particular on gangs.
The review will cover sentencing policy, including that involving juveniles, gun supply, gang membership, and which new powers - if any - might be required.
A number of community leaders attending the meeting warned that Britain was in danger of creating a generation of "urban child soldiers" and said they were uncomfortable with more legislation on gun crime.
Earlier, shadow home secretary David Davis said gun crime stems from drugs and family break-ups.
He said these were serious problems which will not be fixed by a "one-hour meeting".
Ministers met community workers and crime experts at the summit following a spate of fatal shootings of young people.
Ministers say they will push through laws making it an offence for an adult to pass a weapon to a younger person.Ministers say they will push through laws making it an offence for an adult to pass a weapon to a younger person.
The Violent Crime Reduction Act, already approved by Parliament, was due to come into effect at the end of the year - but ministers want it to be implemented in April.The Violent Crime Reduction Act, already approved by Parliament, was due to come into effect at the end of the year - but ministers want it to be implemented in April.
Passing a weapon on will be treated in the same way as possession of a weapon.Passing a weapon on will be treated in the same way as possession of a weapon.
GUN CRIME The number of people injured by firearms in England and Wales has more than doubled since 1998In 2005/2006, the number of gun murders fell by more than a third from 78 to 50There were 11,084 recorded firearms crimes in 2005/2006 - up 0.12% on previous yearLondon, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands account for 54% of recorded incidents Source: Home Office Shame bad fathers - Cameron Peace march plannedGUN CRIME The number of people injured by firearms in England and Wales has more than doubled since 1998In 2005/2006, the number of gun murders fell by more than a third from 78 to 50There were 11,084 recorded firearms crimes in 2005/2006 - up 0.12% on previous yearLondon, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands account for 54% of recorded incidents Source: Home Office Shame bad fathers - Cameron Peace march planned
Mr Davis said the government had held a series of summits, but "none of them have generated anything more than a bunch of headlines".Mr Davis said the government had held a series of summits, but "none of them have generated anything more than a bunch of headlines".
And Tory leader David Cameron, who is visiting a community project in Manchester, questioned whether the summit would "get to grips with the issue".And Tory leader David Cameron, who is visiting a community project in Manchester, questioned whether the summit would "get to grips with the issue".
Mr Cameron has argued that a lack of role models was fuelling gang culture and called for fathers to be compelled to take a greater role in bringing up their children.Mr Cameron has argued that a lack of role models was fuelling gang culture and called for fathers to be compelled to take a greater role in bringing up their children.
He supports the idea of tax breaks to help families stay together and promoting a "culture of responsibility and respecting authority".He supports the idea of tax breaks to help families stay together and promoting a "culture of responsibility and respecting authority".
But Mr Blair said gun crime was a problem within a "specific criminal culture".But Mr Blair said gun crime was a problem within a "specific criminal culture".
The prime minister has suggested the minimum age at which someone faces a mandatory five-year jail sentence for possessing a gun could be reduced from 21 to 17.The prime minister has suggested the minimum age at which someone faces a mandatory five-year jail sentence for possessing a gun could be reduced from 21 to 17.
And he has told the BBC he is considering criminalising gang membership.And he has told the BBC he is considering criminalising gang membership.
Mr Reid, who is also at the summit, ridiculed Mr Cameron's stance on crime, saying the problem would not be solved by "hugs and kisses". Mr Reid ridiculed Mr Cameron's stance on crime, saying the problem would not be solved by "hugs and kisses".
There have been five fatal shootings in London in the past month, three of which were of teenagers in the south of the city - two of them killed in their own homes.There have been five fatal shootings in London in the past month, three of which were of teenagers in the south of the city - two of them killed in their own homes.
Christian leaders are organising a "prayer walk" through the two London boroughs blighted by recent killings - Southwark and Lambeth.Christian leaders are organising a "prayer walk" through the two London boroughs blighted by recent killings - Southwark and Lambeth.
They say the walk, to take place at dusk on Thursday, will demonstrate the "total abhorrence of the vast majority of black Londoners to gun violence".They say the walk, to take place at dusk on Thursday, will demonstrate the "total abhorrence of the vast majority of black Londoners to gun violence".