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| Brown meets gun crime task force | Brown meets gun crime task force |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| It is intolerable that any young life is lost, any family bereaved, because of gun and gang crime 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. | 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. | "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." | "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' | '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. | 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. | 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. |