Terrifying trend of soaring gun crime

GUN crime has soared over the last decade with a spate of shootings in Oldham emphasising the terrifying trend.

Figures released by the Tories show that offences involving firearms rocketed in Greater Manchester from 647 in 1998/99 to 1,160 in 2007/08 — a 79 per cent surge.

Apart from London (3,399 offences), the total is the highest in the country and way ahead of areas such as the West Midlands (974), Merseyside (398) and Lancashire (349)

But Greater Manchester Police say crackdowns are working with a 28.6 per cent drop in gun crime over the last year, meaning 369 fewer victims, a 43 per cent reduction in firearm discharges and gang-related shootings down 81 per cent.

Previously, crimes in which a weapon was fired in Oldham soared from one in 2006/07 to eight in 2007/08 — the highest percentage increase in Greater Manchester.

But latest figures show there were 51 incidents of gun crime in the borough in the year until February, 2009, down from 75 over the same period the previous year.

However, there have since been several shootings and three murders connected to Oldham, raising fears of a deadly gang war raging in the borough.

Street shootings dropped by 92 per cent when the Moss Side-based “Gooch Gang” was smashed, but police fear that gun crime has spread to Oldham through Asian gangs using guns to protect drug-dealing.

Grieving dad Mumtaz Khan (60), from Werneth, whose son Junaid (21) was gunned down in Block Lane, Chadderton, in July, has pleaded for criminals in Oldham to lay down their weapons.

The total number of firearm offences in England and Wales increased from 5,209 to 9,865 over 10 years — a rise of 89 per cent. Lancashire saw the biggest rise of 600 per cent while nearly half of all forces either doubled or worse and every region experienced an increase.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling said: “In areas dominated by gang culture, we’re now seeing guns used to settle scores.”

A Home Office spokesman said it was misleading to compare the figures because of changes in recording practice.


Police are still hunting Junaid’s killers, though two men have been charged with possessing ammunition.

Simeon Henderson (27), of no fixed abode, and Ryan Manning (21), of Bird Street, Higher Ince, have been charged with the murder of Nasar Hussain, shot dead in a case of mistaken identity in Salford in July, with 11 other men, mostly from Oldham, arrested and bailed.

Chadderton twins Brett and Jordan Francis, of Birch Avenue, have been charged with the murder of Amran Khan (29), gunned down last month in Nugget Street, Glodwick.