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Rise in Merseyside shootings 'as gangs protect drug farms' | Rise in Merseyside shootings 'as gangs protect drug farms' |
(5 days later) | |
By Lucy Ewing BBC News | By Lucy Ewing BBC News |
Merseyside has seen its first significant rise in gun crime in four years, figures have shown. | Merseyside has seen its first significant rise in gun crime in four years, figures have shown. |
Senior officers believe the rise can be linked to a new trend of gang members using the weapons to protect cannabis farms from rival groups. | Senior officers believe the rise can be linked to a new trend of gang members using the weapons to protect cannabis farms from rival groups. |
And that has also led to shootings across a wider area of Merseyside. | And that has also led to shootings across a wider area of Merseyside. |
There have been 91 "firearms discharges" to date this year, compared with 70 last year. That compares with 128 in 2007, 97 in 2008 and 98 in 2009. | |
Six people were killed and 25 injured in 2011, compared with five killed and 26 injured in 2010. | Six people were killed and 25 injured in 2011, compared with five killed and 26 injured in 2010. |
Det Supt Ritchie Davies, of Merseyside Police's Matrix unit, said: "We are disappointed that it has gone up again. | Det Supt Ritchie Davies, of Merseyside Police's Matrix unit, said: "We are disappointed that it has gone up again. |
"Our ultimate goal would be to have zero firearm discharges - but we have to be realistic." | "Our ultimate goal would be to have zero firearm discharges - but we have to be realistic." |
He said the force was seeing a "different type of criminality", where guns were used in relation to cannabis farms. | |
Mr Davies said rival groups were aware of each other's cannabis farms and there had been a series of burglaries - with members trying to disrupt each other's farms. | Mr Davies said rival groups were aware of each other's cannabis farms and there had been a series of burglaries - with members trying to disrupt each other's farms. |
"They are resorting to the use of firearms to protect their investment," he said. | |
"Over the last 12 months, we have seen a particular increase in areas of the city we haven't associated with gun crime." He cited Sefton as an example. | "Over the last 12 months, we have seen a particular increase in areas of the city we haven't associated with gun crime." He cited Sefton as an example. |
'Risk versus profit' | 'Risk versus profit' |
Mr Davies said there were two distinctive types of farms - those in large industrial units and smaller ones, with perhaps as few as 20 plants. | |
It was the smaller factories which appeared to be related to gun crime, he said. | It was the smaller factories which appeared to be related to gun crime, he said. |
Mr Davies said he believed those taking part in organised crime were moving into growing cannabis because the consequences if caught were far lower than those for class A drugs. | Mr Davies said he believed those taking part in organised crime were moving into growing cannabis because the consequences if caught were far lower than those for class A drugs. |
"They look at the risks versus profits," he said. | "They look at the risks versus profits," he said. |
The Matrix unit was set up in 2005 to tackle gun and gang crime. It was the first of its kind outside the capital. | The Matrix unit was set up in 2005 to tackle gun and gang crime. It was the first of its kind outside the capital. |
In 2007, it launched its gun crime strategy, with the aim of reducing gun-related incidents by 25% - a target, the force points out, it has achieved. | In 2007, it launched its gun crime strategy, with the aim of reducing gun-related incidents by 25% - a target, the force points out, it has achieved. |
It now records every firearms discharge and investigates it - regardless of whether someone was killed, injured or shots were fired in the street. | It now records every firearms discharge and investigates it - regardless of whether someone was killed, injured or shots were fired in the street. |
Specialist officers in the 400-strong unit work with neighbourhood officers, community support officers, councillors and members of the community to gain information. | Specialist officers in the 400-strong unit work with neighbourhood officers, community support officers, councillors and members of the community to gain information. |
Play commissioned | Play commissioned |
But it is also playing a far longer game - working to change the culture of those in the community. | But it is also playing a far longer game - working to change the culture of those in the community. |
The team has commissioned a play which has been incorporated into the school curriculum on Merseyside. It has been shown to 30,000 school children. | The team has commissioned a play which has been incorporated into the school curriculum on Merseyside. It has been shown to 30,000 school children. |
Officers also go into schools and work with members of the community, particularly women, to try to help them change attitudes. | Officers also go into schools and work with members of the community, particularly women, to try to help them change attitudes. |
Mr Davies said: "Our aim is to get it as low as possible and keep it there." | Mr Davies said: "Our aim is to get it as low as possible and keep it there." |
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