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Shootings down thanks to specialist police unit

The work of a specialised police unit has helped to more than halve the number of shootings in Birmingham in the last six months.

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A specialist West Midlands Police Unit in the Birmingham Organised Crime team was created in May to proactively target people linked to gang crime.

Between May and November, officers assigned to the unit made 161 arrests, including 34 men aligned to organised crime groups, and seized a stash of guns, imitation firearms, knives and other weapons.

The firearms seizures included an AK47 assault rifle found hidden in a derelict Birmingham pub, a Luger pistol and 35 rounds of ammunition, and sawn-off shotguns.

The result has seen a 53 per cent reduction in firearms discharges across Birmingham compared to the same period in 2018, plus a six per cent increase in firearms seizures.

The team also recovered drugs valued at more than £163,000, plus almost £40,000 in cash suspected to be drugs proceeds.

Detective Inspector Simon Graham, who heads up the team, said: “The force has made a significant investment in tackling organised crime in Birmingham and the expanded team has made an immediate impact.

“The extra capacity means we’ve got more officers in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles on proactive patrols in hotspot areas on the lookout for individuals linked to gangs or suspect vehicles.

“We’re arresting and disrupting people linked to gangs, seizing their vehicles, and taking lethal weapons off the streets."

Anyone with information on gun crime can contact West Midlands Police in confidence via Live Chat at WMP Online or by calling 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org

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