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Victims of shootings in London are increasingly taking the law into their own hands and settling scores with guns rather than talking to the police.
New figures show 40 per cent of shooting victims in the capital refuse to co-operate with officers in any way.
The research also reveals that many of these are likely to go on to either shoot someone or be shot again.
Detectives say the “wholly unco-operative” reaction from victims hampers investigations and encourages tit-for-tat shootings.
Operation Trident detectives — who tackle gun crime in the black community — are battling an 18 per cent overall rise in gun crime in London, fuelled in part by teenage gangs engaged in shootings over respect and territory.
Community leaders are working with police to break down the “wall of silence”. The Independent Advisory Group for the Operation Trident squad has launched a review of how police treat witnesses and victims. Claudia Webbe, head of the advisory group, said: “We are looking at the barriers preventing people who have been shot from coming forward. This could be through fear or because they want to retaliate or because there are barriers that the police put up.
“The police have come unstuck on this problem and the group have been trying to work with them to find a way so that more individuals come forward.”
Ms Webbe said a high proportion of Operation Trident shootings were connected to the crack cocaine industry: “These are people who are likely to have been victims of a rival group and they are likely to want to sort it out themselves. But there are also people who are innocent, who are fearful. We need to try to find a way of reaching these people, provide the necessary protection. We are examining whether the witness protection scheme is fit for purpose.” There have even been reported cases of nightclub shootings where hundreds of people have denied seeing or hearing anything.
Uanu Seshmi, the director of the From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation which works with youths who have been involved in crime, said many people were too frightened to report offences: “This can create a very dangerous situation with whole neighbourhoods who do not report anything.
“People need to feel protected and the police need to convince them they will be safe. There are many young people who I work with who would not go to the police because they do not feel protected. When you have a gang that has so much power in a neighbourhood they will use that power to terrorise people.”
Detectives say they are achieving success in getting witnesses to give evidence, particularly in murder cases.
They point out that witnesses are regularly granted special measures in court cases where they are allowed to give evidence from behind screens and under assumed names.
Commander Martin Hewitt, head of the Yard's Organised Crime and Criminal Networks unit, said: “Forty per cent of shooting victims will refuse to co-operate in any way whatsoever. Clearly it makes detecting these crimes very challenging.”
He said that in some of those cases, the victims had already determined they would sort out problems themselves.
Metropolitan Police Authority member Cindy Butts, who is leading the research, said police need to look at new ways of tackling gun crime, adding: “We cannot go on with a situation where police are powerless to do anything.”
Reluctance of witnesses hampers hunt for bedroom killer of Billy Cox
Billy Cox was shot in his bedroom on Valentine's Day in 2007. The 15-year-old was found by his 13-year-old sister dying from a chest wound.
Detectives believe Billy knew his attackers on the Fenwick Estate in North Clapham and was targeted over a minor drug deal.
There have been several arrests but the case has been hampered for the past two years by a reluctance of witnesses to come forward, despite a reward of £20,000 on offer for information leading to the conviction of the killer.
Billy was shot at close range, execution style. Two days before he is said to have punched a rival gang member, who vowed revenge. His sister Elizabeth tried to give him first aid but could do nothing to save him. A friend said she was in complete shock: “She could not talk. She just ran inside the flat. She was rocking backwards and forwards and kept saying how cold she was.” Sources close to the inquiry now say they are near to a breakthrough. Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Reader views (8)
Who cares ? let them shoot each other until they're all dead and no longer polluting our country. Result for us.
- Squiz, Islington, 17/11/2009 13:39
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How is this possible? Dont we have strict gun control laws?
- Will, London, 16/11/2009 17:35
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Law and Order, yet another area Labour has failed on in a spectacular fashion.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 16/11/2009 14:53
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It sounds like some of England's people are wising up.
unfortunately, they have to become outlaws to do it.
When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns,
and only outlaws will be able to right the wrongs.
- Stan Blau, Anytown, England, 16/11/2009 12:59
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Cindy Butts wants the police to waste our taxes and their time in coming up with "new ways" of tackling gun crime? We used to have a system which worked, but was stopped due to people like Cindy Butts complaining that it "targeted ethnic minorities" it was called stop and search. Well now you have the gangs targeting each other and frankly most people don't care. I seem to remember Billy Cox was an innocent schoolboy when he was shot, turns out he wasn't. Play with fire get burned.
- Jon, london, 16/11/2009 12:54
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Dont blame the police for everything, its the CPS and that idiot in charge of it, Keir Starmer. We know as we had polish squatters break into a property of ours and set the place on fire to keep themselves warm. They came on several occasions and once whilst they were in the police were called but they said that they couldnt do anything as once they are in the premises they have rights and the CPS wouldnt even consider a case. Thats incorrect. If they break in and enter they can be prosecuted unless they get in with a key or through an open window. So rights to the criminals. We got them out without the help of the police and thats what we will do in the future, its no point calling them, as much as they are very helpful they cannot do much, due to the lunatic laws in this country run by stupid morons.
- Edward, ealing, 16/11/2009 10:09
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This is what happens when ordinary people feel that the law is powerless to stop the bad guys. You've only got to look at recent cases up and down the country involving wayward youth to see that a lot of the time the police are not interested in seriously helping law abiding citizens.
And then there is the judiciary and some of the pathetic sentencing that they are responsible for.
It's no wonder some people take the law into their own hands.
- Mark H, London England, 16/11/2009 09:39
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When people start getting involved in drugs they open themselves up to a lawless world of guns and violence. Having lived in London for over thirty years I have never witnessed any gun crime. As times change I do worry about my children, my advice would be to avoid certain areas of London, walk away from conflict and stay well clear of drugs.
- David, London, 16/11/2009 09:22
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