Menu
02/03/2009
Tracking Gun 'Fingerprints' To Crackdown On Offenders
A new state-of-the-art £8 million national ballistics service to assist police in solving gun crimes was officially opened today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) provides a specialist 'CSI-style' analysis of all ballistics - effectively giving guns and bullets a 'fingerprint' which can be tracked. This means that police across the country will be able to match guns to offenders in double quick time and trace which gun a bullet has been fired from when criminals are using it more than once.
NABIS will support the police to solve crimes where firearms have been used quickly, identify the few individuals who import, store and supply illegal firearms and track down the people involved in illegally converting or adapting firearms.
Since NABIS began work three months ago it has already linked over 100 incidents in which firearms have been discharged and have received over 700 items for analysis.
This includes providing support to the police teams investigating Operation Trident incidents in London and the Fairfield Post Office shooting.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "Every gun or bullet tells a story. The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) helps police unravel that story and track down offenders.
NABIS's specialist CSI-style analysis of ballistics - effectively giving guns and bullets a fingerprint which can be tracked - will help police to match guns to offenders in double quick time.
"NABIS's expert advice will help police take more guns off our streets and better protect our communities from gun-related crimes".
The Government and police are also concerned about the use of deactivated firearms in crime. The concerns are on two fronts: the reactivation of deactivated firearms and the misuse of firearms while in their deactivated form to threaten and intimidate people.
During her visit, the Home Secretary also opened a conference room at the centre dedicated to teenagers Letitia Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis. They were both killed in a drive-by shooting six years ago in Birmingham.
(JM/BMcC)
The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) provides a specialist 'CSI-style' analysis of all ballistics - effectively giving guns and bullets a 'fingerprint' which can be tracked. This means that police across the country will be able to match guns to offenders in double quick time and trace which gun a bullet has been fired from when criminals are using it more than once.
NABIS will support the police to solve crimes where firearms have been used quickly, identify the few individuals who import, store and supply illegal firearms and track down the people involved in illegally converting or adapting firearms.
Since NABIS began work three months ago it has already linked over 100 incidents in which firearms have been discharged and have received over 700 items for analysis.
This includes providing support to the police teams investigating Operation Trident incidents in London and the Fairfield Post Office shooting.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "Every gun or bullet tells a story. The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) helps police unravel that story and track down offenders.
NABIS's specialist CSI-style analysis of ballistics - effectively giving guns and bullets a fingerprint which can be tracked - will help police to match guns to offenders in double quick time.
"NABIS's expert advice will help police take more guns off our streets and better protect our communities from gun-related crimes".
The Government and police are also concerned about the use of deactivated firearms in crime. The concerns are on two fronts: the reactivation of deactivated firearms and the misuse of firearms while in their deactivated form to threaten and intimidate people.
During her visit, the Home Secretary also opened a conference room at the centre dedicated to teenagers Letitia Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis. They were both killed in a drive-by shooting six years ago in Birmingham.
(JM/BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
19 January 2004
National event set to tackle gun crime issues
A two-day national event bringing together representatives of the community and the voluntary sector, young people, law enforcement and policy-makers to discuss the nature of gun crime and gun culture has begun in Birmingham.
National event set to tackle gun crime issues
A two-day national event bringing together representatives of the community and the voluntary sector, young people, law enforcement and policy-makers to discuss the nature of gun crime and gun culture has begun in Birmingham.
10 November 2014
London-Wide Gun Amnesty Underway
A London-wide gun amnesty has gotten underway, allowing people to anonymously leave firearms and ammunition into their local police stations. The Metropolitan Police last ran a gun amnesty in 2008 and say they are particularly interested in stopping antique weapons from falling into the hands of gangs in the city.
London-Wide Gun Amnesty Underway
A London-wide gun amnesty has gotten underway, allowing people to anonymously leave firearms and ammunition into their local police stations. The Metropolitan Police last ran a gun amnesty in 2008 and say they are particularly interested in stopping antique weapons from falling into the hands of gangs in the city.
11 July 2005
Police arrest 21 in gun crime clampdown
West Midlands Police have arrested 21 people in connection with firearms offences, as part of an operation to tackle gun crime. Fifteen men and six women, aged between 13 and 35 were arrested during yesterday’s raids in Rowley Regis.
Police arrest 21 in gun crime clampdown
West Midlands Police have arrested 21 people in connection with firearms offences, as part of an operation to tackle gun crime. Fifteen men and six women, aged between 13 and 35 were arrested during yesterday’s raids in Rowley Regis.
11 November 2014
WWII Mortar Trigger Security Alert At London Police Station
Explosives specialists were called to a south-west London police station on Monday afternoon after a man handed in a World War Two mortar bomb as part of a gun amnesty. Police said that an 80-year-old man handed the 1940s device into Sutton station shortly before 13:30 on Monday.
WWII Mortar Trigger Security Alert At London Police Station
Explosives specialists were called to a south-west London police station on Monday afternoon after a man handed in a World War Two mortar bomb as part of a gun amnesty. Police said that an 80-year-old man handed the 1940s device into Sutton station shortly before 13:30 on Monday.
17 April 2014
Met Report 'One Of The Biggest Gun Hauls Ever'
A haul of 30 firearms have been recovered by the Metropolitan Police in what has been described as "one of the biggest gun hauls ever". Assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns and a Thompson machine gun are among the weapons seized from an address in Leyton, police have said.
Met Report 'One Of The Biggest Gun Hauls Ever'
A haul of 30 firearms have been recovered by the Metropolitan Police in what has been described as "one of the biggest gun hauls ever". Assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns and a Thompson machine gun are among the weapons seized from an address in Leyton, police have said.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, soon followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
