Reid: Three-point attack on gun crime

Thursday, 22 February 2007 12:00 AM

The roots of gun crime are "very deep" but can be tackled by policing, power and prevention, the prime minister said today.

Following the summit on gun crime at Number Ten, the government outlined its plans for tackling a culture of "guns and gangs" which "blight" the lives of peaceful citizens.

Despite the Conservatives questioning whether today's summit, which drew together police officers and community groups, would produce anything "real", the home secretary John Reid emerged from Downing Street with concrete plans.

In April, the government will introduce a new offence of using someone to mind a weapon. This will mean that offenders who pass on their weapon to younger friends or relatives will still be subject to the mandatory five year prison sentence for possession of a weapon. The government will also lower the minimum age for this sentence to 18 years old.

Home Secretary John Reid said: "Gun crime is thankfully very rare in this country but we are not complacent about the challenges we face in forcing home the message that carrying an illegal firearm is simply unacceptable.

"There is not a single, simple solution to keeping guns off our streets and our children out of harm's way. Contributions to this summit have made it clear that effective policing and tough penalties must go hand in hand with education, community action and the personal responsibility of young people themselves."

The response to gun crime will be three pronged, the Home Office explained, involving policing, powers and prevention.

Police will be better equipped to tackle gun crime, with new measures planned to trace the supply of weapons and a ban on imitation weapons. A review of legislation will also mean the courts have the necessary tools to deal with offenders.

The government also intends to empower communities to take action themselves to prevent gang culture and gun crime. Mr Reid announced plans to allocate half a million pounds to community groups tackling gun crime.

Speaking outside Downing Street after the summit, Mr Reid that legislation alone would not solve this problem and deterrents must be balanced with positive engagement. However, he warned against excusing criminals.

Mr Reid said: "I say to people who think this is all about the condition of Britain or some sociological understanding, be careful that you don't unwittingly allow understanding the problem to become an excuse for some of these crimes. There is no excuse for them."

The home secretary warned against vilifying young people. "The vast majority of young people from all backgrounds are good, good young people and we should be proud of them," he said. Mr Reid also claimed that gun crime is decreasing, having fallen by 14 per cent last year.

The Conservatives welcomed the statement from the home secretary, but claimed it failed to address many issues.

"Where is the action on family breakdown, truancy and stopping drugs and guns from coming into the country through our porous borders?" asked shadow home secretary David Davis.

He also criticised the time it has taken for the government to close the loophole on mandatory sentencing for under 21s, claiming it first came to the home secretary's attention last May.

Earlier today, the Liberal Democrats warned that there are "no quick fixes" on gun crime. Leader Sir Menzies Campbell warned that more laws and politician led summits would not solve the problem.

"We need a community-centred approach to tackling the cycle of deprivation, drug culture and lack of recreational opportunities in inner cities," he said.

Tags:
• crime
,
• domestic policy