cuchulainn
October 21, 2003, 09:31 AM
from the Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/20/1066631356248.htmlNew answers sought on gun crime
By Neil Mercer and Les Kennedy
October 21, 2003
The Police Minister, John Watkins, has asked the three most senior police in NSW to "think outside the square" to come up with solutions to escalating gun crime in south-west Sydney.
Mr Watkins met early yesterday morning with the Commissioner, Ken Moroney, and his two deputies, Dave Madden and Andrew Scipione. Although it was a scheduled, regular meeting, the main topic of discussion was last week's shooting in Greenacre, in which two people were killed in a hail of bullets.
The minister's spokesman, Josh Murray,said Mr Moroney had not asked for more resources, but added there had been talk about whether more people or greater search powers were needed. "The minister said 'let's think about it' and come back because the Premier and the minister have indicated there is room for more [resources] if more are required."
The controversial Operation Vikings, where large numbers of police "sweep" through crime-plagued suburbs, was also discussed.
The effectiveness of Vikings, set up last week, is coming under increasing scrutiny. The Government says it has allocated $20.6 million over four years to ensure the blitzes continue.
While it has succeeded in temporarily raising the visibility of police in some areas, it appears to have had little or no effect in stopping serious crime.
Last Friday night, more than 100 officers and specialist teams, including gun and drug sniffer dogs, swept through Bankstown, Bass Hill, Campsie, Lakemba, Punchbowl and Belmore.
While the operation was at its peak on Friday night, a 15-year-old boy walking with a friend was shot in the arm by a motorist in the outer south-west suburb of Macquarie Fields.
Among those deployed over the two days were 47 officers with sniffer dogs attached to Vikings with the specific mission of ridding trouble spots of handguns and thugs.
But police said no firearms had been found after a search of 110 vehicles.
One person, found with a shotgun cartridge, had been charged over possession of ammunition. Four knives were also found.
Mr Murray said it was the first outing for the specialist squad.
He said legislation increasing jail terms for possessing guns and gun parts was imminent. The police were also looking at ways of tracking bulk ammunition sales.
He said the minister had expected senior police to come up with ideas of how to combat the problems within days not months.
Copyright © 2003. The Sydney Morning Herald.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/20/1066631356248.htmlNew answers sought on gun crime
By Neil Mercer and Les Kennedy
October 21, 2003
The Police Minister, John Watkins, has asked the three most senior police in NSW to "think outside the square" to come up with solutions to escalating gun crime in south-west Sydney.
Mr Watkins met early yesterday morning with the Commissioner, Ken Moroney, and his two deputies, Dave Madden and Andrew Scipione. Although it was a scheduled, regular meeting, the main topic of discussion was last week's shooting in Greenacre, in which two people were killed in a hail of bullets.
The minister's spokesman, Josh Murray,said Mr Moroney had not asked for more resources, but added there had been talk about whether more people or greater search powers were needed. "The minister said 'let's think about it' and come back because the Premier and the minister have indicated there is room for more [resources] if more are required."
The controversial Operation Vikings, where large numbers of police "sweep" through crime-plagued suburbs, was also discussed.
The effectiveness of Vikings, set up last week, is coming under increasing scrutiny. The Government says it has allocated $20.6 million over four years to ensure the blitzes continue.
While it has succeeded in temporarily raising the visibility of police in some areas, it appears to have had little or no effect in stopping serious crime.
Last Friday night, more than 100 officers and specialist teams, including gun and drug sniffer dogs, swept through Bankstown, Bass Hill, Campsie, Lakemba, Punchbowl and Belmore.
While the operation was at its peak on Friday night, a 15-year-old boy walking with a friend was shot in the arm by a motorist in the outer south-west suburb of Macquarie Fields.
Among those deployed over the two days were 47 officers with sniffer dogs attached to Vikings with the specific mission of ridding trouble spots of handguns and thugs.
But police said no firearms had been found after a search of 110 vehicles.
One person, found with a shotgun cartridge, had been charged over possession of ammunition. Four knives were also found.
Mr Murray said it was the first outing for the specialist squad.
He said legislation increasing jail terms for possessing guns and gun parts was imminent. The police were also looking at ways of tracking bulk ammunition sales.
He said the minister had expected senior police to come up with ideas of how to combat the problems within days not months.
Copyright © 2003. The Sydney Morning Herald.