cuchulainn
March 27, 2003, 07:52 AM
from the ICBirminham site
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/page.cfm?objectid=12780598&method=full&siteid=50002Force's firearms unit increased
Mar 27 2003
By John Revill, Birmingham Post
The number of firearms officers in the West Midlands is set to increase by almost a fifth to tackle the growing amount of gun crime in the region.
Fifteen more officers will be added to the 83-man unit over the next 12 months. The decision, which features in the 2003/4 Policing Plan, was made in response to the fears in communities where firearms are used.
Chief Inspector Tony Styles, who heads the Firearms Operations Unit, insisted the decision had been taken some time ago and was not a reaction to the recent rise in firearm offences, including the Aston shooting of Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis.
The number of offences in the West Midlands rose from 887 in 2000/1 to 1,289 in 2001/2002 - an increase of 45 per cent.
Nationally the number of gun crimes soared from 7,362 to 9,974 offences, an increase of 35 per cent.
Chief Insp Styles said: "Armed criminality has seen a rise in most of our major cities across the country, but increasing the size of the unit has been planned for some time and is not a knee-jerk reaction.
"Given the size of the West Midlands and the number of incidents we are required to respond to, it is inevitable that the unit needed to increase."
The plan to increase the number of firearms officers comes days before a national and forcewide amnesty is planned, aimed at reducing the number of firearms on the streets.
The amnesty will be launched on Monday and will run for a month.
The Firearms Operations Unit currently consists of a team of 86 highly-trained, specialist officers, who undergo intensive training lasting up to two years.
The unit operates three armed response vehicles and responds to any incident where it is alleged firearms have been seen or are being carried.
As well as armed responses, it carries out armed escorts, escorts for VIP visits and pre-planned operations.
Chief Insp Styles said: "We will be looking to recruit these additional officers over the next 12 months but it takes time for them to go through the lengthy selection and training process."
Paul Tonks, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, welcomed the increase. He said: "Many of the current firearms officers are working long hours in very stressful situations, and having extra officers will reduce the burden some of them face in life and death situations."
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2003
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/page.cfm?objectid=12780598&method=full&siteid=50002Force's firearms unit increased
Mar 27 2003
By John Revill, Birmingham Post
The number of firearms officers in the West Midlands is set to increase by almost a fifth to tackle the growing amount of gun crime in the region.
Fifteen more officers will be added to the 83-man unit over the next 12 months. The decision, which features in the 2003/4 Policing Plan, was made in response to the fears in communities where firearms are used.
Chief Inspector Tony Styles, who heads the Firearms Operations Unit, insisted the decision had been taken some time ago and was not a reaction to the recent rise in firearm offences, including the Aston shooting of Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis.
The number of offences in the West Midlands rose from 887 in 2000/1 to 1,289 in 2001/2002 - an increase of 45 per cent.
Nationally the number of gun crimes soared from 7,362 to 9,974 offences, an increase of 35 per cent.
Chief Insp Styles said: "Armed criminality has seen a rise in most of our major cities across the country, but increasing the size of the unit has been planned for some time and is not a knee-jerk reaction.
"Given the size of the West Midlands and the number of incidents we are required to respond to, it is inevitable that the unit needed to increase."
The plan to increase the number of firearms officers comes days before a national and forcewide amnesty is planned, aimed at reducing the number of firearms on the streets.
The amnesty will be launched on Monday and will run for a month.
The Firearms Operations Unit currently consists of a team of 86 highly-trained, specialist officers, who undergo intensive training lasting up to two years.
The unit operates three armed response vehicles and responds to any incident where it is alleged firearms have been seen or are being carried.
As well as armed responses, it carries out armed escorts, escorts for VIP visits and pre-planned operations.
Chief Insp Styles said: "We will be looking to recruit these additional officers over the next 12 months but it takes time for them to go through the lengthy selection and training process."
Paul Tonks, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, welcomed the increase. He said: "Many of the current firearms officers are working long hours in very stressful situations, and having extra officers will reduce the burden some of them face in life and death situations."
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2003