MPA scrutiny makes key recommendations to improve Met response to gun crime in the capital

07/04
6 February 2004

The Metropolitan Police Authority’s Gun Crime Scrutiny today published its final report identifying areas for improvement in the way the Metropolitan Police Service responds to gun crime in London.

Over the past six months the scrutiny panel has gathered evidence from key partners from education, community safety, anti gun crime projects and the community as well as academic researchers and serving MPS officers. Young people were accessed through the MPS Youth Independent Advisory Group. Over three hundred and fifty individuals and organisations were asked to complete a consultation questionnaire. The MPA scrutiny aimed to identify recommendations that will help the police tackle the menace of gun crime.

The report makes seventeen recommendations, the most important of which are;

A significant amount of firearm offences in London are committed with replica and converted weapons, a trend that is reflected nationally. Legislation currently proposed by the government will not impose a blanket ban on replicas.

• The scrutiny calls for a complete ban on all replica weapons capable of being mistaken for real weapons as a matter of urgency;

Consultation showed that Operation Trident is he most widely recognised anti-gun crime initiative in London but that although gun crime still disproportionately affects the black community, the number of firearms offences in other communities is rising.

• The panel therefore recommends that consideration be given to widening the remit of Operation Trident to include gun crimes in all minority ethnic communities;

Initial research gathering revealed that the responsibility for tackling gun crime was split between boroughs and a number of different pan-London units within the MPS. Consultation suggested that this might complicate the MPS's response to gun crime.

• The scrutiny has proposed that the MPS clarify which unit is responsible for what as a matter of urgency and that a single policy to tackle all types of gun crime be developed;

The scrutiny looked at the link between guns and drugs and concluded that very little work has been undertaken so far to quantify the exact nature of the relationship between the two.

• The panel recommends that the MPS response to drugs and gun crime, which are at present kept separate, should be more closely co-ordinated; and

Diversion activities for young people were identified as crucial to reducing gun crime in the long-term. However, the lack of long-term financial support for community projects was highlighted as a major concern.

• The scrutiny has decided to build on a proposal originally made by the Not Another Drop team in Brent and work with the Disarm Trust to create a charity capable of co-ordinating and supporting the response to gun crime in London and across the country.

Cindy Butts, Chair of the scrutiny panel, said:

“Our scrutiny concentrated on the MPS response to tackling the disturbing escalation in gun crime across London in recent years. The overall aim has been to add value to the Met’s existing activities and suggest constructive ways to move policy forward, and we believe our findings are of real significance.

“Of fundamental importance is our recommendation to broaden the remit of Operation Trident to ensure all minority ethnic communities receive the level of focus they deserve. The success of Trident in tackling gun crime within the black community is well recognised and, significantly, has won the support of the community. We envisage this success being replicated on a wider scale.

“Similarly, our recommendation that the MPS response to drugs and gun crime, which are at present kept separate, should be more closely co-ordinated, which will enable a more coherent and informed response.

“The scrutiny panel add their voice to all those who are already lobbying the government to impose a complete ban on replica weapons which are capable of being mistaken for, or even converted into, real weapons. The government should recognise the urgency with which the problem needs to be addressed and act in the interest of all our communities.

“The fact that we are recommending areas for improvement does not imply we believe the MPS’s response to gun crime is inherently weak. On the contrary we congratulate the Met on its work in this area. We could not have arrived at our final report without the support and assistance of the Met and we look forward to working together to implement our recommendations.”

The MPS will be asked to complete an action plan to record how implementation of the recommendations, along with other gun crime initiatives, are being achieved. Progress will be reported to the MPA every six months.

Notes to editors

1. On 7 February 2003 Co-ordination and Policing Committee agreed to undertake a scrutiny of gun crime in London. Cindy Butts was appointed chair of the scrutiny panel and other members were invited to express an interest in taking part. The scrutiny panel met for the first time on 1 May 2003. The panel consists of Cindy Butts (chair), Reshard Auladin (vice chair), Jennette Arnold, Richard Barnes, Peter Herbert, Nicholas Long, R. David Muir, Abdal Ullah and Rachel Whittaker.

2. The objectives of the scrutiny were to:

• clarify absolute and comparative levels and trends of gun crime in London as well as performance in subsequent criminal justice processes;
• describe the management structures used in, and resources available to, the MPS in relation to gun crime;
• assess the extent to which Special Notice 5-02 was implemented and, where implemented, the extent to which output/outcomes were cost effective;
• assess the extent to which recommendations from local inspection of Operations Trident and the Flying Squad have been implemented and have been cost effective;
• consult with key partners, communities and individuals in London to inform the approach that should be taken by the MPA and/or MPS.

3. The scrutiny focused on the MPS’ strategic response to gun crime rather than the immediate operational response to an armed incident. The procedures covering the role and deployment of armed officers did not form a major part of the review. Witness protection was not specifically included within the scope of the scrutiny and did not form a major part of the review. The scrutiny also covered the link between guns and drugs to a limited extent. The scrutiny did not address the question of whether or not the police should be armed.

4. The MPA has conducted two previous scrutinies covering rape investigation and victim care by the MPS and the Authority’s involvement in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs). A further scrutiny of stop and search practice in the MPS is nearing its conclusion. Scrutinies are directed and controlled by a panel of members, working under the overall direction of the relevant MPA committee.

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