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/manchester/7098773.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Brown meets gun crime task force | Brown meets gun crime task force |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Gordon Brown promised severe punishment for people caught carrying firearms as he met a special police task force tackling gun crime in Manchester. | Gordon Brown promised severe punishment for people caught carrying firearms as he met a special police task force tackling gun crime in Manchester. |
The prime minister met officers at the task force's base at Greenheys police station in Moss Side. | The prime minister met officers at the task force's base at Greenheys police station in Moss Side. |
He also talked to families who have had relatives murdered by gang members. | He also talked to families who have had relatives murdered by gang members. |
The visit came as officers continue to hunt the killers of Jessie James, 15, gunned down a few streets away in a local park in September 2006. | The visit came as officers continue to hunt the killers of Jessie James, 15, gunned down a few streets away in a local park in September 2006. |
The government set up its own ministerial task force in the wake of the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool in August. | The government set up its own ministerial task force in the wake of the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool in August. |
Both murders remain unsolved, amid growing concern about gun violence on Britain's streets. | Both murders remain unsolved, amid growing concern about gun violence on Britain's streets. |
Punishment is an important part of sending message that guns are completely unacceptable to this city Gordon Brown Police hold gang talks | Punishment is an important part of sending message that guns are completely unacceptable to this city Gordon Brown Police hold gang talks |
The visit coincided with police in the capital revealing plans for talks with leaders of south London's most violent gangs in an attempt to cut gun crime. | The visit coincided with police in the capital revealing plans for talks with leaders of south London's most violent gangs in an attempt to cut gun crime. |
Mr Brown renewed the government's pledge to take a tough stance on gun crime during his meeting with Greater Manchester Police's Xcalibre Task Force on Friday morning. | Mr Brown renewed the government's pledge to take a tough stance on gun crime during his meeting with Greater Manchester Police's Xcalibre Task Force on Friday morning. |
He said: "The reason I'm here is that it is intolerable that any young life is lost, any family bereaved, because of gun and gang crime. | |
"I want to see it rooted out. I want to not only send my condolences to families who have suffered, but assure them we will do everything in our power to root out gun and gang crime. | |
"If you are harbouring guns or have a gun in your possession, you will be sentenced with a very severe penalty for doing so." | |
'Absolute priorities' | |
The task force has been working to break the city's crime gangs and officers have visited the Los Angeles police department to look at the methods used there. | The task force has been working to break the city's crime gangs and officers have visited the Los Angeles police department to look at the methods used there. |
Michael Todd, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Tackling guns and gangs in Manchester is one of our absolute priorities. | Michael Todd, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Tackling guns and gangs in Manchester is one of our absolute priorities. |
"The really important thing is he will see the men and women on the Xcalibre Task Force making a real difference to people's lives, bringing these people to account." | "The really important thing is he will see the men and women on the Xcalibre Task Force making a real difference to people's lives, bringing these people to account." |
Hours before Mr Brown's visit, officers seized six guns at a suspected cannabis farm in Tellson Crescent, Salford. | |
A man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s were arrested and are being questioned on suspicion of firearms offences, possession of cannabis and the illegal abstraction of electricity. |