Geezah
07-05-2005, 09:30 AM
CAMDEN'S top police officer has attempted to allay fears of a rising gun culture.
He says the borough does not have "a significant volume of gun crime" despite a recent spate of high profile incidents.
Last week a teenager was shot in the leg in front of thousands of gig-goers at a rap concert at The Forum in Kentish Town.
It was the latest in a string of incidents involving firearms in the borough.
A month ago a man in his 20s was shot in broad daylight near the busy Buck Street Market in Camden Town. He was shot in the leg during a dispute and crawled into a shop but survived the ordeal.
Another man is going through the courts on charges of possession of a revolver in Belsize Park stemming from an incident on June 3.
A week earlier firearms cops shot a man in Kentish Town with an electric stun gun after a stand-off which involved the man threatening to shoot himself.
And in April a Hampstead bookmakers and a cheque exchange in Bloomsbury were held up by gunmen within an hour of each other.
Camden's Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Mark Heath said that there is not a major firearms problem in the area.
He said: "There is not a significant volume of gun crime in the borough. Any increase there is, we treat seriously.
"For the period of April to June this year, compared to the same period last year, there has been a five per cent reduction in gun crime.
"It is also worth remembering that statistics include CS spray and air weapon offences. The actual use of firearms in the borough is relatively low."
However figures compiled by the Met on a rolling 12-month basis show there has been a 20 per cent increase in gun crime in Camden in the last year.
The 91 incidents in the last 12 months move the borough above Islington, which has seen a drop in gun crime in the same period.
Only Brent has seen a greater percentage increase in gun crime in the last 12 months.
Chief Supt Heath added: "Comparatively to other boroughs we have low numbers of gun crime but because the numbers are low the percentage increase looks high.
"We also have a 40 per cent detection rate for gun crime which puts Camden in the top four in London."
However, campaigner Lyn Costello, of Kentish Town-based charity Mothers Against Murder And Aggression (Mamaa) warned that the streets of Camden are getting more dangerous.
She said: "I am always concerned and horrified by incidents like the one at The Forum but I am not shocked any more and that in itself is quite sad.
"Gun crime is a rising problem. A couple of years ago when we first talked about it people said we didn't have a problem but we could see we were going that way.
"People in this country say 'it doesn't affect me because it is black-on-black or drugs-related' but it will matter when someone gets caught in the crossfire."
Mamaa was recently involved in a successful campaign to remove a Reebok advert, featuring the rapper 50 Cent being shot, from television screens.
Ms Costello fears such adverts and associated gangster rap cultures can persuade youngsters that guns are mere accessories.
The shooting at The Forum took place while controversial rapper Jadakiss was performing on stage.
Ms Costello said: "We need to start in the classroom. At the moment youngsters think it is a trend.
"They need to know from a very young age that guns are designed purely to kill."
A spokeswoman for Camden Council said it ran initiatives warning youngsters about the dangers of knives but did not have similar programmes for guns.
She said: "Gun crime is not a prevalent crime within the 10 to 17 age group so we do not have specific projects to address that, but we do have specific projects with young people carrying knives."
Link (http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&category=Newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED30%20Jun%202005%2017%3A33%3A22%3A973)
Good to know there is a rise, but it's a positive rise in gun crime :cantbeli:
He says the borough does not have "a significant volume of gun crime" despite a recent spate of high profile incidents.
Last week a teenager was shot in the leg in front of thousands of gig-goers at a rap concert at The Forum in Kentish Town.
It was the latest in a string of incidents involving firearms in the borough.
A month ago a man in his 20s was shot in broad daylight near the busy Buck Street Market in Camden Town. He was shot in the leg during a dispute and crawled into a shop but survived the ordeal.
Another man is going through the courts on charges of possession of a revolver in Belsize Park stemming from an incident on June 3.
A week earlier firearms cops shot a man in Kentish Town with an electric stun gun after a stand-off which involved the man threatening to shoot himself.
And in April a Hampstead bookmakers and a cheque exchange in Bloomsbury were held up by gunmen within an hour of each other.
Camden's Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Mark Heath said that there is not a major firearms problem in the area.
He said: "There is not a significant volume of gun crime in the borough. Any increase there is, we treat seriously.
"For the period of April to June this year, compared to the same period last year, there has been a five per cent reduction in gun crime.
"It is also worth remembering that statistics include CS spray and air weapon offences. The actual use of firearms in the borough is relatively low."
However figures compiled by the Met on a rolling 12-month basis show there has been a 20 per cent increase in gun crime in Camden in the last year.
The 91 incidents in the last 12 months move the borough above Islington, which has seen a drop in gun crime in the same period.
Only Brent has seen a greater percentage increase in gun crime in the last 12 months.
Chief Supt Heath added: "Comparatively to other boroughs we have low numbers of gun crime but because the numbers are low the percentage increase looks high.
"We also have a 40 per cent detection rate for gun crime which puts Camden in the top four in London."
However, campaigner Lyn Costello, of Kentish Town-based charity Mothers Against Murder And Aggression (Mamaa) warned that the streets of Camden are getting more dangerous.
She said: "I am always concerned and horrified by incidents like the one at The Forum but I am not shocked any more and that in itself is quite sad.
"Gun crime is a rising problem. A couple of years ago when we first talked about it people said we didn't have a problem but we could see we were going that way.
"People in this country say 'it doesn't affect me because it is black-on-black or drugs-related' but it will matter when someone gets caught in the crossfire."
Mamaa was recently involved in a successful campaign to remove a Reebok advert, featuring the rapper 50 Cent being shot, from television screens.
Ms Costello fears such adverts and associated gangster rap cultures can persuade youngsters that guns are mere accessories.
The shooting at The Forum took place while controversial rapper Jadakiss was performing on stage.
Ms Costello said: "We need to start in the classroom. At the moment youngsters think it is a trend.
"They need to know from a very young age that guns are designed purely to kill."
A spokeswoman for Camden Council said it ran initiatives warning youngsters about the dangers of knives but did not have similar programmes for guns.
She said: "Gun crime is not a prevalent crime within the 10 to 17 age group so we do not have specific projects to address that, but we do have specific projects with young people carrying knives."
Link (http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&category=Newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED30%20Jun%202005%2017%3A33%3A22%3A973)
Good to know there is a rise, but it's a positive rise in gun crime :cantbeli: