We have supported development work with respect to BRGV (community engagement) which is chaired by Birmingham City Council and BRGV3 (scrutiny and critical friend for BRGV) which is chaired by Dr Derrick Campbell.
Government Office for the West Midlands has advised on the development of work with the organisers of the proposed Regional Womens’ Anti Violence Alliance. The Alliance is due to be launched in March 2008 as part of Wolverhampton Peace Week.
Fatalities and injuries from firearms have decreased from 2004-2006 when compared to previous years for most areas of the West Midlands.
Birmingham
Birmingham has traditionally had rates of gun crime higher than elsewhere in the region. However, the city has consistently recorded falls in gun crime since 2002.
We are supporting several initiatives which have been undertaken to assist in the reduction of the levels of gun crime.
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Birmingham Reducing Gang Violence has continued to be a focal point for activities and partnership work with respect to efforts to reduce gun crime. The partnership is chaired by the West Midlands Police supported by a range of agencies and voluntary sector groups including Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Probation, YOTT, Victim Support, Increase the Peace UK, Mothers in Pain, Street Pastors and others.
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In 2006 we organised a visit to the US to increase understanding of some of the problems associated with gang violence and gang culture and importantly what activities could be transferred here. Delegates from Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police and Government Office for the West Midlands saw at first hand how cities like Brooklyn and Philadelphia have reduced gang related violence, including shootings.
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Progress has been made in terms of the GOWM partnership with Birmingham City Council. In 2006 GOWM were successful in negotiating a secondee from Birmingham City Council to continue the work on Guns and Gangs. This secondment enters its final phase of work by focussing on the development of a draft regional strategy on guns and gangs, which is due to be completed by June 2008.
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In March 2007 a conference was held in partnership with Birmingham City Council on gun and gang crimes. The event featured an array of distinguished speakers from the States, including a District Attorney from New York’s Bronx and Philadelphia’s Senior Director of Crime Prevention. Closer to home Trudi Elliott, Regional Director of GOWM and Paul Scott Lee, Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police, contributed to the debates and discussions. Two of the key aims of the conference were to disseminate the findings from the visit to the USA and to address good practise and encourage more partnership work for reducing gang related violence here.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton has seen a rise in gun crime since 2005.
A Round Table meeting was held with colleagues from Wolverhampton, organised jointly between Birmingham City Council and Government Office of the West Midlands, to work with them to support the development of discussions and activities to address issues
Government Office for the West Midlands has provided advice to the organisers of Wolverhampton Peace Week which runs for two weeks in March 2008 and is being organised in response to recent initiatives and issues in the Wolverhampton area.
Sandwell
There has been a gradual reduction in gun crime, similar to the picture for Birmingham.
