The Infer Trust makes every effort to record and categorise the firearms incidents reported in the UK but we recognise that it is not a complete record.
If you are aware of a gun incident which is not listed please notify us. You can do this by either sending us the link for an on line report, or a hard copy of a press article to our address.
Two men have been charged after a store in Hereford was allegedly robbed at gunpoint. The men were arrested near the scene. The weapon was later found to be an unloaded air weapon. One offender was jailed for 7 years and his accomplice received 5 years in a Young Offenders Institution. Two police officers received a Divisional Commendation for their swift response (West Mercia Police, July 2008). Two other officers have been nominated for bravery awards (BBC, 2 June 2009).
2008/1/30
Sunderland Echo
A £500 reward is being offered for any information leading to a successful prosecution of the person responsible for the death of a swan in Hetton Lyons Country Park in Wearside. The swan was floating in a lake. A vet's report showed that the fatal head wound was consistent with a pellet from a ball bearing gun. A total of five swans were discovered dead or seriously injured in the park during January and February 2008 (Shields Gazette, 5 March 2008).
2008/1/30
Press Association
A 17-year-old suspected of being involved in the shooting dead of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Croxteth, Merseyside, in August 2007 (see Incidents) was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm following raids on three addresses in Croxteth.
2008/1/30
Northern Echo
A man shot at a car being driven by a couple close to the hamlet of Low Worsall in Cleveland. The woman described how a car had suddenly come up behind them and an arm came out of the rear window with something black in his hand. Seconds later the back window was hit. Police have no idea whether the gun was an air weapon or something more deadly.
2008/1/30
In the News
Two teenagers were in a critical condition in hospital after a shooting in a betting shop in Withington, Manchester. An 18-year-old had received gunshot wounds to the stomach and torso and a 16-year-old sustained gunshot wounds to the chest, shoulder and leg. Two men were seen fleeing the betting shop. The 16-year-old victim has since died in hospital (see February 2008 Incidents).
2008/1/30
Express & Echo
Armed police went to a home in Uffculme, Devon, after a woman claimed that she had been held against her will. She mentioned she had seen a firearm. No firearm was seen by officers, but a man was arrested and was in custody.
2008/1/30
Eastbourne Today
A train from Eastbourne to London Victoria was stopped by police at Berwick station after rail staff reported seeing a man with what looked like a gun or pistol in his waistband at Polegate. Staff were unsure whether the man had boarded the train and no weapon was found.
2008/1/30
Diss Express
Police fired a stun gun to subdue a man who threatened a driver with an air rifle at Bridgham, Norfolk. It is understood that the man had blocked the bridge in the village with a van and he had been behaving oddly both in Bridgham and earlier at Garboldisham. He was retained under the Mental Health Act.
2008/1/30
Citizen (Blackpool)
Stuart Boys 21, has been jailed for 27 months after pointing an air rifle at a group of young people during a burglary in Poulton. He stole an X Box and some computer games. Boys had 22 previous offences on his record, including robbery.
2008/1/30
BBC
A lorry driver was threatened with a handgun as his vehicle was parked on a bridge over the M1 at Barlborough in Derbyshire. Thieves stole his load of 300 televisions.
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