Posted on 10/29/2005 11:02:48 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
Concern over gun rise
By Carron Taylor
A senior Met police officer has warned the scourge of gun crime has spread to Wandsworth, despite the borough commander once dubbing the area one of the safest in London.
The Met Police's assistant commissioner, Tarique Ghaffur, said guns were now spreading to parts of London such as Wandsworth and Putney.
Gun crime has increased across Wandsworth by nearly 84 per cent over the past financial year.
Mr Ghaffur, whose responsibilities include serious gun crime and divisions such as Operation Trident, said the increase in firearm incidents was part of a national trend.
Since April there have been 68 incidents of gun-related crime in the borough, compared with 37 cases in the last financial year. Detective Sergeant Phil Tomlinson, who heads Wandsworth police's drugs and firearms desk, said a significant amount of firearm offences in Wandsworth were committed with replica and converted weapons.
He said there were also a large number of ball-bearing (BB) guns which were easy to purchase and yet contribute toward gun crime figures.
"The drugs and firearms desk at Wandsworth are working with Wandsworth Council to reduce drug dealing and those who use firearms to protect their interests," he said.
"We have already had significant results since the start of Operation Shield.
"This has included the seizure of 17 replica firearms, five firearms, 148 rounds of ammunition and one hand grenade."
The borough's robbery desk has also made arrests in relation to firearms as part of Operation Impact.
DS Tomlinson added: "I must stress that gun-enabled crime in Wandsworth is still much lower than neighbouring boroughs such as Lambeth, even though Wandsworth is geographically twice the size."
Wandsworth is the largest of the inner London boroughs, covering 13 square miles and with 280,000 residents.
[10:39am Friday 28th October 2005]
The British are starting to learn that when you outlaw guns only outlaws will have them.AWB
Concerned about the rise of guns in Britain? But..but, don't they have a LAW against owning a gun there?
I am sure that they are surprised to find that "the conspiracy of ignorance masquerades as common sense" extends evern to the old country.
It doesn't take rocket science to figure why. It will get a lot worse and the liberal party will never have a clue.
This must be an old or outdated article. Everybody knows that evil guns have been outlawed in England. Thus every law loving Briton sleeps peacefully in his or her bed, serene in the knowledge that Her Majesties Government keeps them safe in their homes.
Of course your correct. The IRA didn't have any guns, those were broomsticks and rake handles they were carrying;)AWB
Kind of gives a new meaning to shooting fish in a barrel.
What Great Britain needs to do is effectively ban all guns from all civilian hands, thereby making the countryside once again safe for honest citizens. That will solve the problem! Oh, wait a minute...
Well maybe Britain should ban guns! Oh wait...
Wonder how the pointed knife ban is working out?
LOL. This is about a third as many guns and less than a tenth of the ammunion that's within fifty fet of where I sit. There are two particularly evil, LOADED guns within twenty feet. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO TO SAVE MYSELF FROM THIS HORRIBLE MENACE???
Ha, don't give them any ideas!
148 rounds won't support one gun let alone 5.
Hell if they are confiscating replica weapons a knife ban can't be far off.AWB
Right!!! Well then... henceforth, all things sharp will be banned, and all things pointy shall also be banned, and anything that is sharp AND pointy is right out!!! Also, things that are blunt are banned, and things that are heavy are banned, and things that are blunt AND heavy are RIGHT OUT AS WELL!!!
Well, lets see... that about cover it then???
A few more things to address - ropes, chemicals, natural disasters, oh and fists...definitely have to outlaw fists they can be used to shake at people and hit them; fists are really really bad. Amputate all fists for everyones safety!AWB
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