Posted on 01/25/2003 8:59:30 PM PST by Mark
We can beat guns together Jan 25 2003 By John Revill, Birmingham Post
The West Midlands Chief Constable yesterday pledged gun crime in the region would be stamped out - if the public was "brave" enough to play its part by backing the police.
Paul Scott- Lee said the groundswell of public revulsion over the New Year killings of teenagers Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare could help to defeat criminals who resort to firearms.
Voicing confidence that his force would achieve the same successes in tackling gun crime as it had with other anti-crime initiatives, Mr Scott-Lee said his main priority was to make people feel safe in their communities and confident in the police.
Among the measures he wanted to see as part of this objective was an extension of on-the-spot fines for low level anti-social behaviour to cover more offences and younger offenders.
"I want to try and make the people of the West Midlands feel safe and feel good where they are. It is not just about addressing crime, it is about finding a way to work with the community.
"We achieved good results in reducing burglary, robbery and vehicle crime which people thought would not be possible, but we've managed it.
"There's no reason that can't be maintained and why we can't use the same skills to reduce gun crime. But the community has to be brave and be prepared to say enough is enough."
Mr Scott-Lee, who took over as Chief Constable in September, said he had been impressed by the vibrancy and energy of the region and the organisation of its police force in particular.
He said West Midlands Police had benefited from the local policing structure introduced by his predecessor Sir Edward Crew.
Local beat officers having responsibilities for specific areas offered the best way to improve public confidence as well as tackling gangland crime.
Mr Scott-Lee cited Operation Ventara, the force's initiative against gun crime, which resulted in 57 arrests and the recovery of 97 weapons last year.
Three major ingredients were needed to rid the streets of the menace of gun crime, said Mr Scott-Lee, who added that he was optimistic it could be achieved.
"Firstly people need to feel safe and secure living in the West Midlands without a gun. There is no reason at all for any law abiding member of the community to carry a weapon in a public place.
"Secondly I have to have the means to take on and arrest the people responsible and put them before the courts. This is not just about extra firearms teams and more officers, but also better intelligence and support from the community.
"Stiffer sentences would send a message out to the gun carrying criminals as well.
"People used to say nothing could be done about criminals who carry knives, but we it was made illegal to carry them in a public place and we got on top of that problem.
"Finally the community in all its aspects has to be part of the solution. There can be no tolerance of gun crime and people need to come forward and help.
"The public swell of opinion recently can definitely be part of the solution. If we have all these things together there is no reason we cannot get rid of guns."
In order to boost public confidence, a raft of witness protection steps are set to be increased and publicised more widely.
"People are not fully aware of what we can do, from giving information anonymously through Crimestoppers to providing a completely new identity in the most extreme circumstance.
"We need to make people aware of what we can do. But over and above that, it would be better if others in the community recognised the contribution witnesses and others make. Everyone may think it's the right thing to do, and if they support them, it will make a massive difference."
It just "takes a village" and passage of laws. So simple! And of course FEELING good does a lot :
No, it IS about addressing crime.
Well, I'm kidding. What's scary is that there are idiots who really believe this stuff.
Oh but feel free to stab or run-over anyone you like, because that's not the type of crime we care about. And that "groundswell of public revulsion" by a bunch of dis-armed subjects is really going to make a huge difference.
Say WHAT?
In that case he should put his money where his mouth is,and melt down into scrap ALL the guns held by his police dept,and he should do this in public so everybody knows none of the cops have any guns. In short,lead by example.
I think you are right,and it won't be long before it happens.
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