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Gun crime increased dramatically in London last year even though the total number of offences fell, new figures revealed today. Violent attacks were also up.
Senior officers said there were “grave concerns” over the rises.
The number of offences involving guns — which also includes cases where criminals claimed to be armed — soared by 49 per cent to 3,306 cases, up from 2,224 in 2008.
While many involved air guns or even fake or imitation weapons, senior detectives have told the Standard there was a worrying rise in the number of gangland shootings.
Overall crime in the capital in 2009 was at its lowest level for 10 years, with significant falls in youth violence and knife attacks.
But gangsters engaged in drug and turf wars are increasingly using firearms to settle scores, and often only the skill of paramedics prevented shootings becoming murders.
Commander Maxine de Brunner said: “Overall, crime continues to fall, which is great news for London.
“In particular, falls in homicide, youth violence and knife crime represent continuing success in tackling these offences. However, the Met is not complacent. We continue to tackle those challenges head-on.”
The number of youth violence cases fell by 3.5 per cent to a total of 20,272, meaning there were 725 fewer victims last year.
Knife crime, which claimed the lives of 10 teenagers, fell 7.9 per cent — a drop of 1,037 offences.
London's murder rate also fell to its lowest rate in recent history — with 130 homicides, compared with 155 in 2008.
The number of teenage murders was halved from a record total of 30 in 2008 to 15 last year.
Senior detectives say the success in tackling knife and youth violence is mainly due to tougher intervention on the streets, with massive rises in the number of stop and searches.
However, there were increases in several other categories of crime. Residential burglaries rose by nearly six per cent to 62,081.
Violent crime also rose, though only slightly, to a total of 175,000 offences. There was a 24 per cent increase in the number of rapes, up from 2,131 to 2,646.
Cases of homophobic crime rose by 27 per cent and race crime was up by seven per cent.
The total number of crimes in London fell by more than two per cent to 832,439 offences, down from 851,721 offences in 2008.
The Met said there were 20,000 fewer victims of crime last year than 2008.
Reader views (10)
I thought firearms were not allowed in the UK, or at least very restricted. Why are these CRIMINALS not following the law and using them anyway?
- Clive T, Toronto, Canada, 25/01/2012 05:56
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@ Richard Cranium, Pittsburgh, PA USA
Rubbish! Just look at the huge levels of gun crime in the States. It is a never ending circle of gun violence. No way hoza!
We need severe mandatory sentences and unfortunately we also need a strong competent Judiciary. We have neither.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 22/01/2010 11:38
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All Police officers should carry Guns. They would be protected better and the country would also get a rebate from the EEC due to the annual fine we have to pay due to our Police not being armed.
- Stan White, leeds, 22/01/2010 09:26
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"The Met said there were 20,000 fewer victims of crime last year than 2008." Most people just don't report it. Why do the authorities think we are all stupid when they make such statements?
- Frederick, London, 22/01/2010 05:31
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Given the attitude of police as you reported in "Officers ‘who laughed at rape victim’ face new watchdog investigation" on the 10th of this month, I don't see how you can have any faith in the statistics on rape.
Given the attitude of police, the defense tactic of trying the victim in court instead of the attacker, and the abysmal conviction rate, why bother reporting such a crime.
And does the main UK crime survey still ignore crimes where the victim is under the age of 16?
- Zendo Deb, St Petersburg, Florida, USA, 22/01/2010 03:09
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If you arm the honest citizens the bad guys would be afraid to approach someone if they knew he could be armed.
- Richard Cranium, Pittsburgh, PA USA, 21/01/2010 21:27
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Police statistics, like most statistics are swayed heavily by those collecting it.
If they used the law correctly, they wouldn't be using SOCPA to wrongly accuse people of suspected terrorism in order to stop and search them
"Senior detectives say the success in tackling knife and youth violence is mainly due to tougher intervention on the streets, with massive rises in the number of stop and searches."
There is such a huge police presence, the laws are getting more and more ridiculous and we the people are letting it happen. Before we know it, the UK will be a fully blown police state. We are not far off already!
If these stats are indeed a true representation, I feel that there are a number of reasons, aside from what the police are suggesting, for a decrease in London's crime. People are intimidated by the legal system (unfair laws), police are not playing fair (abusing unfair laws) and maybe even people going out less. A 2% fall in crime isn't something to write home about though, or feel overly proud about -- there are still nearly a million incidents reported.
The last thing we need is more police on the streets.
- Andy Lewis, 'ackney, East Laaandon, 21/01/2010 19:05
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Can the "Brains of Britain" not see what they are doing to this country? what are they being told in their education at Oxbridge ?.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey, 21/01/2010 17:38
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Rejoice only 832,439 crimes committed in London.
2% reduction, so there are only 98 victims instead of 100. should we have noticed. I suppose the 2 are pleased.
Most people do not bother ringing the police unless they need a crime number for their insurance, or its something serious.
I rang 999 once for the police and got told all lines were busy, but dont worry somebody will be with you shortly, after about 3 minutes I hung up. they rang me back after about 15 minutes and asked me what my emergency was.
- Steve M, London, 21/01/2010 17:32
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It might be time to change the No 1 targeted crime from cyclists jumpling red lights to something more serious
- Patrick, Dalston, 21/01/2010 17:23
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