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| Police launch gun crime strategy | Police launch gun crime strategy |
| (7 days later) | |
| A new gun crime strategy in England and Wales has been launched by the Association of Chief Police Officers. | A new gun crime strategy in England and Wales has been launched by the Association of Chief Police Officers. |
| Keith Bristow, chief constable of Warwickshire, revealed plans for a new database on guns used in crimes. | Keith Bristow, chief constable of Warwickshire, revealed plans for a new database on guns used in crimes. |
| It means detectives will be able to find out if a gun or ammunition was used in an earlier crime within 24 hours rather than waiting weeks. | It means detectives will be able to find out if a gun or ammunition was used in an earlier crime within 24 hours rather than waiting weeks. |
| The National Ballistics Intelligence Programme will be run from centres in London, Birmingham and Manchester. | The National Ballistics Intelligence Programme will be run from centres in London, Birmingham and Manchester. |
| Officers will be able to submit recovered guns, shells or bullets to the units, which will then use forensic techniques to match them to earlier crimes. | Officers will be able to submit recovered guns, shells or bullets to the units, which will then use forensic techniques to match them to earlier crimes. |
| Firearms used by criminals are very mobile Dr Bob Golding | Firearms used by criminals are very mobile Dr Bob Golding |
| Dr Bob Golding, programme manager for the £5m unit, said officers would have access to vital information much more quickly. | Dr Bob Golding, programme manager for the £5m unit, said officers would have access to vital information much more quickly. |
| "Firearms used by criminals are very mobile, they are passed between gangs and perpetrators. | "Firearms used by criminals are very mobile, they are passed between gangs and perpetrators. |
| "This is not a local issue, it is a national issue and this is a national solution." | "This is not a local issue, it is a national issue and this is a national solution." |
| Mr Bristow said there had been a recent fall in gun crime, backed up by Home Office figures which showed it decreased by 8% between June 2005 and June 2006. | Mr Bristow said there had been a recent fall in gun crime, backed up by Home Office figures which showed it decreased by 8% between June 2005 and June 2006. |
| Young people shot | Young people shot |
| He added: "Gun crime is an awful, corrosive problem. [But] the fear of gun crime is disproportionate to the reality." | He added: "Gun crime is an awful, corrosive problem. [But] the fear of gun crime is disproportionate to the reality." |
| The announcement follows high profile murders of young people. | The announcement follows high profile murders of young people. |
| Jesse James, 15, was shot three times with a semi-automatic handgun in Manchester and 19-year-old Dean Myles was shot dead outside a Bristol nightclub in September. | Jesse James, 15, was shot three times with a semi-automatic handgun in Manchester and 19-year-old Dean Myles was shot dead outside a Bristol nightclub in September. |
| We're not an armed police service and my colleagues don't want to be armed Jan Berry, Police Federation | We're not an armed police service and my colleagues don't want to be armed Jan Berry, Police Federation |
| Jesse, who police believe was killed as a result of mistaken identity, was buried on Tuesday. | Jesse, who police believe was killed as a result of mistaken identity, was buried on Tuesday. |
| Greater Manchester Police described his death as a "watershed moment". | Greater Manchester Police described his death as a "watershed moment". |
| Jan Berry, chairwoman of the Police Federation, told BBC Five Live officers were concerned about what they see as a low numbers of firearms officers. | Jan Berry, chairwoman of the Police Federation, told BBC Five Live officers were concerned about what they see as a low numbers of firearms officers. |
| Ms Berry said: "We're not an armed police service and my colleagues don't want to be armed, but they don't believe we have enough firearms officers. | Ms Berry said: "We're not an armed police service and my colleagues don't want to be armed, but they don't believe we have enough firearms officers. |
| "We've only got about just over 5% of our officers carry firearms, and with the number of incidents which are involving guns today, I do question whether that's enough." | "We've only got about just over 5% of our officers carry firearms, and with the number of incidents which are involving guns today, I do question whether that's enough." |
| Social problems | Social problems |
| She said a new firearms database, which would allow information to be shared across the country, could be part of the solution. | She said a new firearms database, which would allow information to be shared across the country, could be part of the solution. |
| But she said it was also vital to tackle social issues and work with those who see firearms as a sign of power and esteem. | But she said it was also vital to tackle social issues and work with those who see firearms as a sign of power and esteem. |
| "Clearly you can't just all the time meet power with power because that does not solve the underlying problems," she said. | "Clearly you can't just all the time meet power with power because that does not solve the underlying problems," she said. |
| "We clearly need to have police officers who are properly armed and able to deal with situations. | "We clearly need to have police officers who are properly armed and able to deal with situations. |
| "However, behind that you have to have the police service working with the public and with the communities and for us to build a greater trust between the communities and the police." | "However, behind that you have to have the police service working with the public and with the communities and for us to build a greater trust between the communities and the police." |
| Police are also reportedly considering creating a special unit to focus on the most dangerous gun criminals in the country. | Police are also reportedly considering creating a special unit to focus on the most dangerous gun criminals in the country. |