08/03/2010

Firearms Operations Fall In Notts

Gun crime in Nottinghamshire has dramatically reduced in the last six years according to a new report.

The Home Office has studied the number of times police forces have had to respond to reports of firearms being discharged and crimes involving guns.

And the report shows that in Nottinghamshire the number of policing operations involving armed response vehicles (ARVs) is now more than 50% lower than it was six years ago.

In 2008/09, the Force's armed response vehicles were involved in 197 operations, compared with 404 in 2003/04. In 2007/08 there were 246 such operations.

In addition, the number of operations where firearms officers were authorised to be deployed has fallen by almost 50 per cent, from 459 in 2003/04 to 245 in 2008/9.

Chief Supt Ak Khan, head of Nottinghamshire Police's Operational Support Department, said: "I am really encouraged by the latest figures which illustrate that fewer firearms are being discharged and fewer crimes involving guns are happening," he said.

"While reports of firearms incidents are not the only reason for deploying armed police officers, the fall in the number of gun crimes has obviously had an impact.

"The fact we are authorising fewer firearms operations is a clear indication that there are fewer serious incidents that require the attendance of such specialist responses.

"This not only means the public of Nottinghamshire are safer, but it also means that our own officers are facing fewer serious and dangerous situations."

(PR/Gk)

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