BIRMINGHAM is now the gun capital of Britain following a huge explosion in gang violence, official figures reveal.
Firearms offences in the region have rocketed by 86% - with West Midlands police recording 1,089 gun crimes in the 12 months to March, up from 584 the previous year.
The surge has seen the West Midlands, with a population of 2.9 million, overtake previous gun hotspot London, home to million and where the Met Police the country's largest force - logged 1,087 gun crimes in the same period.
8.8 The shocking figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest little progress has been made since the deaths of Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18.
The friends were killed as they left a New Year party in the early hours of January 2, 2003 and were caught in the crossfire of a turf war between rival Birmingham gangs the Burger Bar Boys and the Johnson Crew.
Letisha's mum Marcia, who has dedicated her life to fighting gun and gang crime, said: "Unfortunately, it's not a surprise.
"It's sad that we're back in the same place we were 20 years ago."
VICIOUS CYCLE
Marcus Ellis, Nathan Martin, Michael Gregory and Rodrigo Simms, allegedly Burger Bar Boys, were jailed for life in 2005 for murdering Letisha and Charlene.
Marcia set up the Precious Trust charity and has been awarded an MBE for her work. She blames the surge in gun crime on factors including Covid, poverty and county lines dealers and warns it will get worse without a long-term plan.
Denne historien er fra August 27, 2023-utgaven av The Sunday Mirror.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 27, 2023-utgaven av The Sunday Mirror.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Triple threat
FARKE'S BOYS MAKE IT LOOK THR-EASY
LEFT HIS MARC
Guehi leveller piles pressure on winless O'Neil
FESTIVE ENVOI
'Unfinished business' plans for Boxing Day\
LIAM'S OASIS OF CALM
Garden room to enjoy Morning Glory.
Baked-in profit
Mary whips up a tasty £1.74m annual income
Covid briefing comedian Janey loses her cancer battle at 63
COMEDIAN Janey Godley passed away yesterday at the age of 63 after a long battle with cancer.
A REEL CHEEK
Water boss fishing in paradise as firm dumps sewage in UK waters
KEM ON DOWN
Historic win as Badenoch is first Black party leader
Glove and hate
THE polls could not be closer, or the differences greater, in the race to become the next US president.
Prince William: Africa has always held a special place in my heart
PRINCE William has told of the \"special place\" Africa has in his heart ahead of returning to the continent for his Earthshot Prize awards.