Smith lauds gun crime crackdown

The home secretary has welcomed a crackdown on gun culture, which has seen more than 100 people arrested across England.

Jacqui Smith said on Thursday that police had seized some 1,300 real and imitation firearms in raids in the gun crime hotspots of Manchester, London, Liverpool and Birmingham.

More than 1,000 officers descended on the cities - which are responsible for more than half of Britain's gun crime - as part of the 24-hour crackdown.

They seized 10 handguns and nearly £6,000 in cash, as well as six imitation handguns, 1,290 realistic imitation firearms, three CS gas canisters, a stun gun and four air weapons.

The move comes as part of the government's programme for tackling gangs, launched by Smith in September following the fatal shooting in Liverpool of 11-year-old Rhys Jones.

Smith said: "Yesterday's success proves that gun crime can be tackled and communities can stand up against the intimidation of guns."

Thanking all the police forces involved in the operation, she said that the programme had made "good progress" in increasing "enforcement and community reassurance".

"Getting guns off our streets is a top priority for the government and the day of action sends a strong message to criminals and the community that weapons won't be tolerated," the home secretary said.

Officers from HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency were also involved in the day of action, which saw officers checking the records of registered firearms dealers.