From: "Brian Toller", [EMAIL PROTECTED] Front page lead in the Liverpool Echo tonight. GUN LAW. Armed Police Aim To Halt City Shootings Armed police road checks are being set up on the streets of Liverpool. The crackdown aims to halt the recent spate of city centre shootings. Patrols are also being stepped up as police take a stand against the growing number of weapons. Other tactics are being discussed in a bid to stop guns getting into the city. The move is in resonse to public fears following recent shootings. Five incidents in two weeks have left one city nightclubber dead and 10 others injured, including two bouncers. More patrols are being deployed towards next weekend. Officers may be authorised to stop some vehicles at gunpoint. If they meet strict rules regarding suspicion of crime. Assistant chief constable Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "There will be a significant increase in armed patrols towards the weekend. High visibility policing, especially in the city centre, will also be stepped up and our CCTV vans will be operating." "Area commanders will be asked to give an analysis of what options are available to us and some tactics may be made public later in the week." " We ae sure that we can stop some of the people whom we know can get involved in this type of incident from getting into the city." "We do already have armed patrols covering all areas of Merseyside 24 hours a day, but we do routinely arm officers on the streets unless the risk is high." Police have stressed that year on year there is no significant rise in gun crime on Merseyside. In fact, the region is the second safest urban area in the country, according to the most recent crime figures. An ECHO survey today reveals the public wants a tougher stance by the police. "I'm surprised at the unanimity of the public response to the ECHO survey." added Mr Hogan-Howe. "We will now carry out our own survey through our focus groups, and listen to what they have to say about this issue. and a follow up on the inside page. Gun Traders Target Kids Guns are being smuggled from eastern europe into the hands of Merseyside youngsters, police confirmed today. The influx of weapons may be responsible for the spate of five shootings in two weeks, leaving one person dead and ten injured. A tip off from the crime underworld alerted police to the problem several months ago. Since then operations to sieze guns from the hands of youngsters have been under way. Three guns were recovered during a raid in Liverpool last Friday. There are fears that the availability of weapons will make shootings more commonplace. Today an underworld crime source said: "Guns are getting into young and very dangerous hands. Bits of kids in their late teens are settling some petty scores by resorting to guns.When people are getting shot over next-to-nothing and a young lad is lying dead, it sickens even hardened people who are used to dealing with guns" The latest victim is Francis Burke 18 from Kirkdale, who was killed by a gunman outside the Pulse club in Skelhorne Street, Liverpool, after a saturday night out with friends. Police have not established a motive. Four other shootings include two outside city centre nightclubs. Assistant chief constable Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "We had intelligence a few months ago that guns were coming into Merseyside and falling into the hands of young people. We have begun operations to intervene, only last Friday we recovered three guns. Ther is also a long-term activity happening to tackle the problem. The firearms market is a mobile one and guns may be coming into our are from outside" Merseyside police are pioneering a computer technique to trail the movements of guns across the UK and Europe. If anyone wishes to point out any salient points to them [EMAIL PROTECTED] Brian T Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
