Gun crime rates have fallen in Liverpool in the past five years - despite a recent spate of high-profile tragedies that saw three innocent people gunned down in just six days.
Figures obtained by the ECHO from Merseyside Police show the number of gun crimes reported in Liverpool has dropped from 283 in 2021 to 241 in the months leading up to December 12 2022.
The number of reported shots fired increased from 43 to 46, but this was still was still less than half the number of shots reported five years ago in 2017 (94). Some 79 shots were reported in 2018, and 82 in 2019, before plummeting to 48 in 2020.
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The number of injuries caused by guns has also fallen in the past five years, from 34 in 2017 to just 11 in 2020.
Detective Inspector John Mullen, from Merseyside Police's specialist firearms investigation team, said: "Towards the end of a year where we have seen such tragedies caused by gun crime, improving statistics are, of course, not a cause for celebration or complacency.
"However, it is encouraging to see that the number of shootings in Merseyside remains at its lowest for 21 years. This has been decreasing year-on-year since 2019... We want to keep building on this positive momentum and ensure that guns being fired on Merseyside become rarer still in the future. Less people are being injured by the use of firearms, but we know that any gun fired has the capacity to cause devastation."
Five people lost their lives to gun violence in Liverpool this year, with three of these happening within just one week.
Sam Rimmer, 22, died in hospital after being shot several times at Lavrock Bank, Dingle, on August 16. Five days later, Liverpool Council worker Ashley Dale, 28, died after being shot by a man who burst into her Old Swan home and fired multiple shots "indiscriminately" at around 12.40am on August 21.
Just one night later, nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was gunned down in her own home in Dovecot. Her death sent shockwaves across the country, and plunged Liverpool into a state of mass mourning, as memorials were laid and candles lit in memory of the little girl.
Outside Liverpool, 53-year-old grandma of five Jackie Rutter, was shot dead in the doorway of her Moreton home in what her family believed was a "revenge attack" on October 30.
And on Christmas Eve, 26-year-old Elle Edwards was shot dead while on a night out with friends at The Lighthouse pub in Wallasey. A 30-year-old man from Tranmere was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and another Tranmere man, 31, and a 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
Overall, the number of fatal firearms discharges has remained steady in Liverpool over the past five years, with four deaths recorded in 2017 and 2018, two in 2019, five in 2020, and three in 2021.
Det insp Mullen said: “In addition to these confirmed shootings, we also deal with other firearms incidents. These include where a suspected firearm, real or imitation, is seen or used to threaten individuals or businesses while committing such crimes as robbery. The seriousness of such incidents cannot be understated. Whether you are witness to or victim of such threats or acquisitive crimes, the psychological impact can be severe and long-lasting, and is why it is so important to remove all such weapons from the community.
“We find that some people are unimpressed or sceptical when news of police recovering imitation firearms is shared. But these weapons are designed to cause fear and distress and I can tell you this: many are so convincing that even our seasoned detectives will not immediately spot that they are imitations. The more information is shared about people who have control of firearms, real or imitation, the safer we can make the streets."
Merseyside Police received 92 weapons and more than 800 live rounds of ammunition during a nationwide firearms surrender operation in May.
Det insp Mullen said the force was committed to stamping out gun crime by tackling the causes of the problem head-on, working with the National Crime Agency in the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership, which was introduced in 2021 to combat the illegal supply of firearms and drugs.
Meanwhile, the Violence Reduction Partnership brings together the police, councils, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the National Probation Service and the county’s Youth Offending Service to provide opportunities for young people with the aim of reducing violence and crime.
Det insp Mullen said: “The commitment of Merseyside Police and our partners and communities to continuing this progress is relentless. Building on the progress of the past few years hopefully means further reductions, but also providing greater opportunities and pathways for those people who find themselves vulnerable.”
Detective Superintendent Siobhan Russell, head of the MVRP, said: “One of our principal aims for Merseyside is for all of our children to have the best start in life, living in a safe place where they can grow and develop. We want our families to build resilience, develop aspirations and play a full and active part in their communities. MVRP take a public health approach to improve health and safety of all individuals by addressing underlying risk factors, and by taking a whole family approach.
"Our sports, arts and culture funded programmes also give young people a positive alternative, where they can learn a variety of skills, build their confidence and resilience, be healthy in body and mind and most importantly, enjoy mentoring support. The public health approach can take time but we do believe that it is working and will operate even better with the continuing support of the people of Merseyside.”
Anyone with information about who is using or storing weapons in their area is asked to DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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