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
Louie flushed
BARRY WRECKS 'EM AS HIS WONDER GOAL IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEST OF ENEMIES
MOORE TO COME FROM MIKEY
TOTTENHAM'S huge new teenage star Mikey Moore has surprised hordes of observers over his exciting abilities.
THE TERRORISTS
Victims' horror as app lets users make digital clones of monsters
Probe after woman's body found in car boot
Discovery link to house 90 miles away
Hunt's just a quasi Kwasi
Earnings dwarfed by rival Tory clown
Three-quarters fear care crisis as they get old
Half of us have no savings for later life
JLS Oritse: I'm on cloud nine with new baby boy
Couple's elation after 2 dévastating losses
Unfit for a King.. or his tenants
30 royal rentals fail energy standards at Sandringham
LOW BLOW
Boos for Tyson & Paul in baddest fight on planet
EVERY TIPPLE HELPS
Tesco fizz wins Crimbo taste test