Police conference focus on firearms

The second annual Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) criminal use of firearms conference will look at how forces can protect communities from the growing gun culture.

Representatives from police forces across the country, Home Office officials and other Government departments and agencies will attend the conference at Birmingham's Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Keith Bristow, Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police and leader of Acpo's criminal use of firearms portfolio, said: "The police have a duty to protect the public and although a lot of work has been done nationally to reduce the harm caused by gun enabled crime, I know that my colleagues and I can do more to prevent the tragic events we have seen over the past few months in Merseyside, London and indeed much closer to home in my own force area of Warwickshire".

He said urgent work was being carried out to identify ways of tackling gang-related gun crime and the supply of guns.

He said: "The power of communities to assist us tackling this problem cannot be underestimated.

"With the confidence and support of all communities assisting us to understand the problem, we can work with our partners to find solutions."