Offenders and victims of gun crime in London are getting younger, according to a report by the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee – ‘Gun crime in London‘. While only four per cent of gun crime offenders are women, women make up around a quarter of victims. The largely hidden nature of gun crime means it is difficult to know how many guns there are in London, the report says; and it does not offer an estimate.
It found a ‘a significant rise in gun crime in the capital’. Guns are most often used in violence against the person and robberies. Most crimes involving guns do not result in the weapon being fired. Supply of guns into the UK from abroad is a growing concern, particularly as the use of technology and ‘the dark web’ is changing the way people can access weapons. A small, but increasing number of weapons are originating from eastern Europe, particularly de-commissioned guns, which are easily converted into a viable weapon, but there is still a lot of traffic from the US, the report says. Gun use may be spreading outside of gang disputes.
Chairman of the Police and Crime Committee, Steve O’Connell, said: “The number of gun crime offences in the capital is small, but nonetheless it is a crime that can cause devastating effects for victims, families and communities. The supply of guns from abroad being aided by new technology is a trend that needs to be stopped in its tracks.The changing nature of gun possession and use will also need careful monitoring and may prompt the need for a change in the approach to intervention.
“And the worrying trend that both offenders and victims of gun crime are getting younger means we must provide more information to young people about the consequences of carrying a gun, and what to do if they find one or are aware of someone possessing one. The Mayor is well placed to support action to reduce the numbers of guns on the streets and the risk of individuals becoming involved in gun crime. The question for the Mayor is whether guns require a distinct and specific approach to prevention and intervention. What we cannot do is allow it to evolve into the kind of situation the capital faces with other serious violence, most notably knife crime.”
For the 11-page report visit https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/20180123_final_pcc_gun_crime_findings_report.pdf.
