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Manchester to receive anti-gang funding

10/09/2007

Greater Manchester is one of four city-regions chosen by the government to benefit from a £1 million crackdown on guns and gangs.

Government cash will be used to finance undercover operations, surveillance, enhanced police visibility and extra safe houses.

The Tackling Gangs Action programme will be overseen by a ministerial taskforce, chaired by home secretary Jacqui Smith, who promised results over the autumn months.

Ms Smith said: "The government takes gun crime very seriously but we must remember that the gun crime problem is concentrated

"I am clear that we must get guns off our streets and tackle the serious gangs who are creating the most problems."

She denied that gun crime was out of control and cited recent successes, such as Operation Trident.

Other cities included in the programme are London, Liverpool and Birmingham.

A 2002 report for the Home Office revealed that around 60 per cent of shootings are thought to be gang-related, with young black and mixed-race male victims usually involved in gangs.