Gun crime trebles in region
Gun crime has trebled across West Mercia police force area in the last eight years, adding to fears of a growing gun culture. Gun crime has trebled across West Mercia police force area in the last eight years, adding to fears of a growing gun culture. Latest figures show police recorded 115 crimes in which guns, not including air weapons, were "reported to have been used" across the area in 2005/06. This compares with 38 in 1998/99 - showing an increase of 202 per cent. Figures for the West Mercia force, which covers Shropshire, show the biggest hike was between 2003/04 and 2004/05, when incidents increased from 62 to 151.
Figures for the West Mercia force, which covers Shropshire, show the biggest hike was between 2003/04 and 2004/05, when incidents increased from 62 to 151.
A Home Office spokesman said the definition of a firearm being "used" ranged from either as a blunt weapon where someone was attacked with the gun, it was fired or used as a threat.
The data was disclosed to MPs in a written parliamentary answer.
The shocking figures come less than two months after Daniel Maxwell, 24, of Telford, was shot in the arm in Shrewsbury.
Mr Maxwell was shot while celebrating a friend's birthday at Shrewsbury's Buttermarket nightclub.
Police have said their investigation has been scaled down. A 19-year-old man from the West Midlands who was previously arrested has now been released from his bail obligation in respect of the shooting.
The Buttermarket shooting was the second time the community in Shrewsbury had been rocked by gun crime this year.
Constable Richard Gray was killed while on duty in Castlefields. Pete Medlicott shot the officer on May 6 before apparently turning the gun on himself after a domestic dispute.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into the deaths and the circumstances in which Mr Medlicott came to hold various firearms. An inquest is due to be held in November.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today reassured the public gun crime was still her priority. Ms Smith, spea-king two days after the fatal shooting of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool, conceded there were too many guns on the streets but pledged to help people feel safe.
Meanwhile six people are being questioned by police today over a street shooting in Letchworth Garden City which left two people seriously wounded.
By Sunita Patel and Rebecca Lawrence