Government has lost control of violent crime says Davis
The Shadow Home Secretary has accused the Government of losing control of violent crime.
David Davis’ comments come in response to the news that Red Cross workers are to give basic first aid training to people living in areas of high gun crime.
Mr Davis said: “Whilst we welcome this sensible idea, it does go to show how the war against violent crime has been lost in this country.
“Unfortunately, this is a symptom of a dreadful collapse of Government policy on guns and how to tackle escalating violence in these hotspot areas.
“We must step up the war on drugs, which fuels so much of the gun culture in Britain, and we should deliver sentences which will deter people from committing these crimes in the first place.
“To simply give up and just offer first aid instead is not an option”.
The training is to be offered to a group of 48 people in Moss Side and Hulme in Manchester.
Organised by local support group DASH-Positive Futures the training will aim to give local individuals the basic first aid skills required to treat gun shot wounds.
After the course the participants will be given posters to display at their homes to identify them as first aiders.
Support worker Lisa Bradshaw, said: “It is in response to the number of shootings in the area. It is happening far too often.
“If somebody has been the victim of gun crime, ambulances often have to wait for the police to make sure the area is safe before they can go to the scene.
“Those extra minutes could be the difference between life and death and we want people in the community to be able to help before the ambulance arrives.”
In addition to the first aid course there will be also be a hard hitting anti gun crime campaign run by other local voluntary groups.
The scheme is funded indirectly from the Government through Voluntary Action Manchester which is an agency offering support to community groups.
