Gangland thugs in Merseyside have inflicted painful blow after painful blow on their communities this year.
For most law-abiding people, it is tempting to see violence inflicted by members of organised crime groups as mostly only affecting other criminals. But that goes out of the window when guns are involved and bullets are sprayed around indiscriminately by reckless fools.
The latter half of 2022 has posed a troubling conundrum for detectives and organisations involved in reducing violent crime in Merseyside. For several years, the number of firearms discharges in the county has dropped dramatically, reaching 21 year lows in 2021.
