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A gun crime expert today called for an immediate review of plans to have armed police on patrols of London's streets.
Dr Roger Grimshaw said the move was a "leap in the dark" and there was "no clear justification" for it. A team from CO19 firearms unit will be deployed to estates and streets to try to prevent shootings after a rise in gun crime.
They will begin next month after a series of pilot schemes in recent weeks. It will be the first time in Britain that armed officers have been put on routine patrol.
The officers, some on motorbikes, will have Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machineguns capable of firing up to 800 rounds a minute, and Glock semi-automatic pistols.
Dr Grimshaw, research director for the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College London, recently carried out a review of gun crime strategies.
He said a public consultation should be carried out: "The international evidence indicates the most reliable way of reducing gun crime long-term is through a multi-agency approach. There are real doubts about the direction of this policy. I don't understand what the deterrent factor is. Do they [the police] think that there is a literal danger to the public in these areas? It seems doubtful.
"There are serious questions about what this approach delivers. There needs to be a review of this and a public consultation. It is by no means trivial. There is no clear justification. This is ... a leap in the dark."
The estates earmarked for patrols are in Brixton, Tottenham and Haringey. Today residents had mixed views about the move. James Brown, 25, of Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham- where patrols have been seen - said: "If police come here with lots of guns of course there is going to be more shooting, and how can that be safe?" Daniel Green, 30, added: "It'll be like Iraq. It won't help. It's just intimidation."
But Milly Yao, 25, said: "I don't mind, they are not coming for me. The police are not stupid. They are doing their job for our safety and protection."
In Brixton, outreach worker Hugh Humphrey, 45, said: "We've tried the softly-softly approach. This doesn't work. Here, if you asked 10 people how to get a gun, three of them could get one for you."
Reader views (9)
You Brits are truly laughable! You have an increasing incidence of gun related crime, yet refuse to take the proper steps to address the threats.
What's the matter? Are you afraid that you'll "terminate" an armed thug? Oh, my! what if he's a voter?
The sun has not only 'set' on the former British Empire, it has submerged into hell.
You people aren't worth further comment.
- Andrew, Hastings, USA, 27/10/2009 15:52
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Am I missing something? The Police are taking this step so that they can do their jobs, ie. patrol in safety and deal with threats presented on a daily basis. We can't ask unarmed Policemen to challenge criminals who are on a regular basis carrying firearms. This is why they are carried in many other countries. Simple.
- Mark, London, 26/10/2009 19:00
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It isn't weapons that need to be feared, but the people holding them. One the one hand you have trained professionals (ok they're human, but the same applies in all instances) and you have the street thugs who couldn't care less about people around them and hold EVERYONE'S lives cheap.
If the police are responding to the situation (they most definitely are!) then I know I want them to be better armed than a street punk, no matter what dreamers like this researcher who comes out with "The international evidence indicates the most reliable way of reducing gun crime long-term is through a multi-agency approach" - what about the problems happening NOW!? What "multi-agencies"? Education? Social services? Health Services? Oh yeah - and the police!
- Rogan, Irving, 26/10/2009 16:42
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"Daniel Green, 30, added: "It'll be like Iraq. It won't help. It's just intimidation."
Or like most other countries in the world that have armed police. Such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
- Richard, London, 26/10/2009 13:06
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Armed police may be a leap in the dark, but a necessary one, I think. If it will deter armed criminals and safeguard law-abiding members of the public, then it must a good thing.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 26/10/2009 12:53
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Does Dr Grimshaw live in either Brixton or Tottenham?
- Philip, London, England, 26/10/2009 12:43
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Welcome to Green Zone London
- W Joseph, West London, 26/10/2009 11:29
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It is just visual spin by the police to make the public think that they are really serious about stamping out all of this gun crime.
It's a bit like placing anti aircraft guns in Hyde Park during WW2. They were there to make alot of noise and flashes to convince the public that London was being defended...when in reality they wern't really doing much good at all.
- Mark H, London, England, 26/10/2009 10:27
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Armed Police patrols have been tried and tested in major cities all over the world, including some very close to home i.e those in N.Ireland. They are anything but a leap in the dark.
The only thing that violent criminals understand is overwhelming and decisive force. That is what the Police must be capable of delivering.
N.Ireland has a fully armed Police force with some areas seeing longarms, like the MP5 pictured above, deployed on routine patrols (ostensibly to counter the threat from dissident republicans). It is worthy of note that, even with paramilitary activity taken account of, gun crime in the province is considerably less than that in London, Nottingham and Manchester.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 26/10/2009 09:27
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