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Anti-gun crime measures revealed Anti-gun crime measures revealed
(30 minutes later)
Home Secretary John Reid has outlined measures to tackle gun crime following a summit at 10 Downing Street with police and community leaders.Home Secretary John Reid has outlined measures to tackle gun crime following a summit at 10 Downing Street with police and community leaders.
At the meeting, chaired by PM Tony Blair, tough punishments for those who use other people to look after weapons were confirmed.At the meeting, chaired by PM Tony Blair, tough punishments for those who use other people to look after weapons were confirmed.
Other plans include more funding for community groups and making gang membership a factor in sentencing.Other plans include more funding for community groups and making gang membership a factor in sentencing.
But community groups said legislation alone would not solve the problem.But community groups said legislation alone would not solve the problem.
Mr Reid also announced a review of the legislation on gangs, guns and knives at the meeting of community leaders and crime experts.Mr Reid also announced a review of the legislation on gangs, guns and knives at the meeting of community leaders and crime experts.
HAVE YOUR SAY Guns, knives, hard drugs, gangs are just symptoms of a much bigger problem James Mitchell, London Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Guns, knives, hard drugs, gangs are just symptoms of a much bigger problem James Mitchell, London Send us your comments
The review will cover sentencing policy - including that involving juveniles - gun supply and gang membership.The review will cover sentencing policy - including that involving juveniles - gun supply and gang membership.
The announcement follows a spate of fatal shootings involving young people.The announcement follows a spate of fatal shootings involving young people.
Mr Reid said he would also "lay an order or any orders that are necessary" to make sure a minimum sentence for a gun offence "truly is a minimum sentence" even for those aged 18 to 21.Mr Reid said he would also "lay an order or any orders that are necessary" to make sure a minimum sentence for a gun offence "truly is a minimum sentence" even for those aged 18 to 21.
Although a five year minimum was introduced in January 2004, the appeal court found last March that because of a clash with separate legislation it could not be applied to those under the age of 21.Although a five year minimum was introduced in January 2004, the appeal court found last March that because of a clash with separate legislation it could not be applied to those under the age of 21.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Reid said: "We need the balance of the punishment and the police action and deterrence, and the positive engagement of voluntary groups and young people themselves in the community.Speaking after the meeting, Mr Reid said: "We need the balance of the punishment and the police action and deterrence, and the positive engagement of voluntary groups and young people themselves in the community.
"If you stop at half those tasks then you get it wrong.""If you stop at half those tasks then you get it wrong."
'Child soldiers''Child soldiers'
Gun crime in the UK is still rare with 50 deaths in 2005/2006 compared with 78 the year before.Gun crime in the UK is still rare with 50 deaths in 2005/2006 compared with 78 the year before.
But the number of recorded gun crimes in the UK rose to more than 21,500 last year compared to just under 14,000 in 1998.But the number of recorded gun crimes in the UK rose to more than 21,500 last year compared to just under 14,000 in 1998.
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
A number of community leaders attending the meeting warned that Britain was in danger of creating a generation of "urban child soldiers" and said young people needed to be offered an "exit strategy".A number of community leaders attending the meeting warned that Britain was in danger of creating a generation of "urban child soldiers" and said young people needed to be offered an "exit strategy".
Mr Reid told the summit he would "look at bringing in a gang and aggravating element in any offence when it comes to sentencing".Mr Reid told the summit he would "look at bringing in a gang and aggravating element in any offence when it comes to sentencing".
But the Rev Nins Obunge, of the churches group Peace Alliance, said: "Legislation is not the way forward. We may be raising urban child soldiers."But the Rev Nins Obunge, of the churches group Peace Alliance, said: "Legislation is not the way forward. We may be raising urban child soldiers."
He said changes in legislation would not help support young people "who need an exit strategy".He said changes in legislation would not help support young people "who need an exit strategy".
"I am very uncomfortable about that," he added."I am very uncomfortable about that," he added.
Mike Todd, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, told the conference children as young as 13 had been found with firearms which they had been asked to hide for others.Mike Todd, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, told the conference children as young as 13 had been found with firearms which they had been asked to hide for others.
Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed "the sentiment from the home secretary".Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed "the sentiment from the home secretary".
"But where is the action on family breakdown, truancy and stopping drugs and guns from coming into the country through our porous borders?," he said."But where is the action on family breakdown, truancy and stopping drugs and guns from coming into the country through our porous borders?," he said.
"What we have heard today should not have required a series of tragic headline-grabbing murders to come about though.""What we have heard today should not have required a series of tragic headline-grabbing murders to come about though."
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. Hundreds of people gathered in south London at dusk on Thursday for 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 said the walk, organised by a coalition of black churches and other Christian leaders, demonstrated the "total abhorrence of the vast majority of black Londoners to gun violence".