Nottingham Gun Crime Decrease

This article was recently published on suite101.com.

Nottinghamshire Police have revealed a substantial fall in firearms offences over the past year.

55 incidents of gun crime were reported in the first 9 months of 2010, representing a 43% decrease from the same period of last year. Police say that only a 17 of these incidents involved a gun being fired.

Chief Superintendent Dave Walker is head of policing in Nottingham; he described the decrease as a “testament” to the police’s approach to gun crime, and to their imroved relationship with the local people.

“While enforcement is a crucial deterrent, it cannot be seen as the only solution to the problem.” He said.

“Arresting and convicting people will demonstrate the consequences of carrying a firearm, but it will be a combination of raising awareness, educating young people and working closely with the communities affected by gun crime that will have the real impact.”


Nottingham’s reputation as a city gripped by gun crime came to a head in 2003 when there were four deaths from shootings in the city, as well as 23 injuries. In response to this, the decision was taken to align police city divisions and city council boundaries, with a joint focus on decreasing crime. This change of approach from police, and their increased work with community groups such as the No Gun Organisation, caused overall crime rates to decrease by half.

Peter Moyes, executive director of Nottingham CDP, remains hopeful that this decrease will continue, despite the threat of Government cuts.

“The target is ambitious but not impossible”. He said. “It is incumbent upon us all to drive as hard as we possibly can to deliver the expectations of local people.

Mr Moyes went on to praise the ‘unique’ structure of policing operations within Nottinghamshire, as well as the close relationship between the police, the city council and its community protection directorate, highlighting how city council parking attendants joined in the combined efforts to trace the two children who went missing in Bulwell recently.

The figures have been well received, however, Councillor Jon Collins, Chairman of the Nottinghamshire Police Authority, warned against a complacent attitude following their release.

He said; “While this downward trend is welcomed, there are still too many people involved in criminal activity who go around carrying guns or knives. We need to ensure that those people are caught and we need to educate young people on the dangers, to themselves and others, associated with weapons of this kind.”