Met Police chief Blair backs gun amnesty » Communities » 24dash.com

Britain's most senior policeman gave his backing to a gun amnesty today as concern about firearms-toting gangs continued to dominate the political agenda.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said the time was probably right for a new initiative to encourage the handing over of illegal weapons.

During a visit to Hackney in east London, with Home Secretary John Reid, Sir Ian said: "I am interested in a gun amnesty.

"I am not saying that we have got to have one, but there is a time for everything and this may well be the time."

He added: "A lot of parents may well be aware that their children have something to do with this and persuade them to take in their guns.

"We will work with our community partners to see if this is the right approach, certainly as far as London is concerned."

The Commissioner also confirmed startling figures on gang membership which emerged in a leaked internal report from the Met earlier this week.

It disclosed that there were thought to be 5,000 gang members in the capital and about 170 active gangs.

Sir Ian said: "It is a Met police report and I do recognise that picture."

He said there was still no definite picture of gangs in the city and that the total would include both highly criminal organisations and others which were much less serious.

He stressed that tackling gun crime and gang membership was not solely a police issue and said it would require a wide range of community measures.

However, Mr Reid said there were currently no plans for a nationwide gun amnesty.

Speaking after meeting local residents in Haggerston, he said: "It is one of the suggestions that has been put to us along with a range of many others.

"We will look at that.

"At the moment we don't have any plans for a gun amnesty."

He added: "We have to try to find out what is actually going to work in the long run.

"We will look at all these suggestions but we don't want to jump to the headline-grabbing - that is sometimes the accusation that is put around."

He insisted tougher sentences would be part of the solution to the gun crime crisis.

Yesterday, a summit at 10 Downing Street showed mixed views from community leaders on the Government's proposal to ensure five-year minimum sentences can be imposed on Under-21s.

Mr Reid said: "Let's look at tougher sentencing, let's look at police action but also that it has to be accepted by local people coming together to help the police.

"We need to strengthen powers and sentences."

The Metropolitan Police also announced today that a suspected gun-runner has been arrested in Amsterdam.

Working alongside the Dutch authorities, the Serious Organised Crime Agency arrested a 29-year-man at an address in the city on Wednesday and recovered a cache of weapons including 12 handguns, a rifle, three Uzi machine pistols, two AK47 assault rifles, a rocket launcher, 20 grenades, a quantity of silencers and ammunition.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said they believed the weapons were destined for the UK's streets and specifically London.

The man, whose name has not been released, was carrying an American passport. He appeared in court in Rotterdam today charged with possession of firearms and explosives.

Copyright Press Association 2007