Police officers Tasered and arrested a teenage male suspected of stealing a van from outside an address in Southampton, Hampshire. Click on media link to read full report.

Edward Little, aged 22, has been jailed for a minimum term of six years after admitting preparing to commit acts of terrorism. In September 2022, Little was stopped and arrested as he travelled to Lewisham, East London to buy a converted gun and bullets. The court heard that, after converting to Islam, Little downloaded extremist propaganda and planned to shoot a Christian preacher at Speaker’s Corner, as well as anyone with her and any police officers or soldiers in the area, to send a “strong message”. He also identified Queen Elizabeth’s funeral as a possible target. Little received a concurrent term of four years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent after attacking a fellow prison inmate with boiling water and two razor blades for “disrespecting" his religion”.

After a number of school children and at least one parent were shot with a BB-type gun on the way to school in Stockton, Co. Durham, police officers arrested a teenage male on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and assault. Some of the children suffered pain and reddened skin.

Daniel Nica, aged 45, has been jailed for an unreported period after being found guilty of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Following a dispute with a man in Doncaster, South Yorkshire in February 2022, Nica fired an air gun at him five times. The victim needed hospital treatment for injuries to his lip, chest and back. Nica subsequently confessed to keeping an air pistol under a bath at his home.

Six members of an organised crime group that dealt in firearms and drugs have been jailed, while a seventh is to be sentenced at a later date. After the criminal messaging network, EncroChat, was decrypted in 2020, detectives discovered that the group, headed by Omar Malik, operated a “stash house” in Ancoats, Manchester, where they stored large quantities of Class A and B drugs, cash, ammunition and weapons including sub-machine guns. Police officers also discovered a black handgun, bullets and large quantities of cash in the footwell of a car linked to the group. Conor Sandlan, responsible for storage and couriering, was arrested shortly afterwards, while Daniel Gibbons, who was used to set up a company as a front for importing weapons into the country, and Daniel Waters, who recruited couriers for the gang, were detained at a property where two sub-machine guns, two self-loading pistols, two magazines containing ammunition, a bag of 1098 rounds of ammunition, cocaine, large quantities of amphetamine and a suitcase containing £616k cash were found. Adrian Gonzalez, responsible for brokering deals with other gangs, was picked up next, while Sean Hogan, who bought a firearm from Andrew Cooney, was picked up at his home where officers discovered a Taser, cocaine and high-value items. Six of the men were jailed for crimes including drug offences and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, receiving sentences that totalled 174 years, while Gonzalez is yet to be sentenced. A firearms expert told the court that the group had “acquired 52 Scorpion machine pistols” and, after keeping a few of the weapons, “sold at least 48 of these machine pistols to various criminal associates”. Following sentencing, a police spokesperson said, “These were very dangerous men who only cared about making vast amounts of money. They didn’t care how lethal their commodities were or the consequences for the communities and innocent people who would be irrevocably affected by this.”

After police officers seized drugs, cash, firearm components and ammunition from a property in Fareham, Hampshire, a teenage boy and a man were arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A and B drugs with intent to supply, possession of a firearm without a certificate and possession of ammunition. Click on media link to read full report.

It has emerged that, in July 2023, at least 10 dogs were dumped in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, with another four having reportedly been shot. A man has now been charged in connection with the offence.

Scott Higgins, aged 35, has been jailed for seventeen years after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm with the intention to endanger life. In July 2023, Higgins and another man burst into a home occupied by three women in Wigan, Greater Manchester. After the woman barricaded themselves into a bedroom, Higgins fired a shotgun at the door. Police and members of the public apprehended Higgins eleven days later. No one was injured. 

Cameron Collier, aged 21, has been jailed for thirteen years and four months for possession of a firearm, possession of a machete, possession with intent to supply a Class B drug, possession of a Class B drug, possession of an offensive weapon, Section 18 wounding with intent and possession of a kitchen knife. In June 2021, Collier was found carrying cash, cannabis and extendable baton, while in November the following year, he threw a modified blank-firing pistol under a car following a disturbance that saw a group of people chased with a machete. In June 2023, police officers seized a loaded handgun at Collier’s home in Leeds, West Yorkshire. This firearm had also been converted from a blank-firing pistol. Following sentencing, a police spokesperson said, “Illegally held firearms and ammunition such as these have the potential to kill or cause serious injury and have absolutely no place in the hands of criminals.”

Increased police patrols were set up in Liverpool, Merseyside after two men suffered gunshot wounds to the legs. In an appeal for information a police spokesperson said, “…Most of our firearms discharges are linked to the organised supply of drugs and often emanate from minor disputes between younger, disorganised criminals who have access to firearms… The use of firearms, violence and intimidation has no place in our communities… Information from the public is vital if we are to continue to breakdown the organised crime groups who bring misery to our streets…”