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Call to tackle gun crime silence | Call to tackle gun crime silence |
(about 2 hours later) | |
One of the UK's top police officers has called for new laws to force the public to inform police about gun crime. | One of the UK's top police officers has called for new laws to force the public to inform police about gun crime. |
Merseyside's Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe told the Guardian newspaper that the protective "wall of silence" around those involved had to be broken. | Merseyside's Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe told the Guardian newspaper that the protective "wall of silence" around those involved had to be broken. |
He said Britain should adopt laws similar to those in Australia which make it a duty to report information. | He said Britain should adopt laws similar to those in Australia which make it a duty to report information. |
The call comes amid growing frustration for police chiefs over the difficulties in tackling gun crime among youths. | The call comes amid growing frustration for police chiefs over the difficulties in tackling gun crime among youths. |
The chief constable told the newspaper it was clear more and more young people were getting involved in gun crime. | The chief constable told the newspaper it was clear more and more young people were getting involved in gun crime. |
The best witness is quite often the victim who can provide a description and motive Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe | The best witness is quite often the victim who can provide a description and motive Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe |
He said he would also want to see new laws extended to the victims of gun crime. | He said he would also want to see new laws extended to the victims of gun crime. |
Those who survive being shot often do not press charges for fear of reprisals. | Those who survive being shot often do not press charges for fear of reprisals. |
"The challenge is people who survive do not want to complain and the best witness is quite often the victim who can provide a description and motive," he said. | "The challenge is people who survive do not want to complain and the best witness is quite often the victim who can provide a description and motive," he said. |
"By refusing to help, it can put the investigation on to the back foot." | "By refusing to help, it can put the investigation on to the back foot." |
However, Victim Support said going to the police should remain the choice of the individual. | |
"We cannot underestimate the impact that going through the criminal process can have on the victims as individuals," a spokeswoman said. | |
Even with witness protection programmes, some people might not feel that was enough and would still be living in a state of fear, she added. | |
Families evicted | |
At a meeting at Downing Street in February, Chief Constable Hogan-Howe said a number of measures introduced in Merseyside were helping to reduce gun crime locally. | |
His officers are evicting families with children hiding guns and moving them to other areas. | |
Regular stop and searches were also taking place, he said. | Regular stop and searches were also taking place, he said. |
Mr Bernard Hogan-Howe, a former assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, took over as chief constable in Merseyside in 2004. | |
There has been a spate of shootings recently involving teenage victims in London but gun crime in the UK is still rare with 50 deaths in 2005/2006 compared with 78 the year before. | There has been a spate of shootings recently involving teenage victims in London but gun crime in the UK is still rare with 50 deaths in 2005/2006 compared with 78 the year before. |
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