Met Police enhances anti gun crime operations

Despite reports in the media that the Met are assigning armed police patrols in south London following the shootings of three teenagers in 12 days, the Met says it is only enhancing ongoing tactics in a bid to prevent and detect gun crime.

It comes after this month’s third fatal shooting in South London. Billy Cox, 15, was found dead at his family home in North Clapham last Wednesday. That incident follows the recent shootings of two other teenagers Michael Dosunmu, 15, shot dead at his home in Peckham and James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, who died after being shot at Streatham Ice Arena.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman told Police Professional the force doesn’t have officers on the street “walking around with guns, and the force has stated that fact clearly.”

He added: “There will be enhanced patrols of ordinary officers and safer neighbourhood teams and there will also be an enhanced use of armed officers in operations aimed at combating gun crime.”

One such operation which will benefit from the enhancement is Operation Neon, which is centred on the use of ANPR teams.

“That operation involves ANPR cameras deployed in a targeted area to identify vehicles that have a firearm ‘trigger’ on an intelligence database. When a suspected firearm related issue is identified in connection with a vehicle or driver of that vehicle, it is stopped and armed officers are present in dealing with the incident.”

Although the Met are not issuing the number of officers that contribute to the enhanced presence, the spokesman said these types of operation are ongoing, but in light of recent events we are adding resources to a specific area affected by gun crime.

Operation Neon is running alongside the investigative based Operation Trident in an attempt to capture those who are committing firearm offences.

The Home Secretary has announced that a summit to discuss gun violence is to be held today (Thursday).