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A team of specialist detectives from across the Met are leading the fight against illegal firearms to prevent devastating and fatal consequences.
Reaffirming their efforts to protect Londoners and ensure firearms have no place in the capital, officers are dismantling serious and organised crime groups who pose the greatest harm.
This has led to a record low in firearms offences in the last fifteen years across London. Last year alone, 386 illegal firearms were seized across the capital – more than one a day.
The Met has also achieved the highest detection rate of people responsible for shootings in the last 11 years, with one in two (52 per cent) criminals being prosecuted.
Since March 2023 there has been a reduction from 196 firearms offences to 145. There has also been a sustained reduction in firearm-related murders in the last three years – from 12 murders in 2021/22, to ten in 2022/23, and eight murders in 2023/24.
There is no place for firearms on the streets of London and every single death or injury is a tragedy, leaving victims and their families with life-changing effects. While progress has been positive, there are still firearms offences taking place.
Specialist officers continue to use data, forensics and technology to locate illegal firearms and arrest the criminals responsible. Officers investigate criminals with a previous history of carrying a firearm and their associates, as well as working closely with communities to gain new intelligence, conduct searches of properties where there may be suspected firearms and employ covert tactics, such as surveillance.
Tenacious Met officers have been hugely impactful leading to a series of targeted operations in specific areas.
Across Harrow, Brent and Barnet, the work of officers has meant there has not been a single firearms-related murder since 2020. That’s compared to previous years when there was at least one fatal shooting per year between 2014 and 2020. Additionally, since 2020, 80 offenders have been charged with various firearm offences, 64 of these have so far been convicted resulting in a total of 367 years in jail.
In South East London, specialist officers have driven down firearms offences in Lambeth and Southwark by 44 per cent – from 45 offences in 2022/23 to 25 in 2023/24.
Between 21 May and 6 June a total of 51 suspects were arrested across Westminster as part of a successful operation targeting gangs and organised crime. The operation, run in partnership with Westminster Council led to the seizure of 17 firearms. 17kg of drugs and more than £150,000 in criminal assets were also seized as part of efforts to make Westminster and the surrounding boroughs safer for local communities.
Met Commander Paul Brogden, who is responsible for specialist crime, said:
“Guns destroy lives and communities. The recent shootings in parts of London are a sad reminder that there is still work for us to do when it comes to cracking down on illegal firearms. My thoughts are with those affected.
“The Met’s sustained work on firearms shows our commitment to making London a safer place. We will continue to build trust in the communities disproportionately impacted by these offences and remain relentless in our pursuit of criminals that use and supply firearms.
“Our progress should serve as a message to criminals and gang members using firearms – we will come after you, and we will bring you to justice.”
Tyrese Miller, 22 shot dead in case of mistaken identity
On 4 April 2023 Tyrese Miller, 22, was fatally shot when he was on his way home from an evening at the pub with friends in Croydon. One man has since been convicted for manslaughter and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life after admitting to shooting Tyrese. Two men were convicted for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Tyrese’s mother, Jackie Taylor has spent the last year supporting her family who have been deeply affected by the tragic death of Tyrese.
Jackie Taylor, mother of Tyrese Miller:
“I worry that if this can happen to Tyrese, it can happen to anyone.
“Once you met Tyrese, you never forgot him. He was loved. He was the centre of our family. He had friends everywhere. Sometimes it was easier to say who he didn’t know. For someone that lived such a short life, he meant an incredible amount to so many of us.
“No mother should have to bury their son like I have. What happened to Tyrese has changed all of us. None of us will ever really come to terms with what has happened.”
Recent results
Lambeth man who hid guns in his children’s bedrooms sentenced to 18 years
Danny Butler, 44 was last year sentenced to 18 years in prison after firearms were discovered by officers at the family home where he lived with his wife and three children – including an 18-month-old.
Officers found six guns, ammunition and Class A and Class B drugs in multiple locations including the children’s underwear drawer and their parents’ wardrobe. Three handguns, one of which was loaded, were among the weapons discovered in his children’s clothes drawer, and another handgun and pump action sawn off shotgun was found in the wardrobe, along with a large amount of ammunition. A second sawn off shotgun was found in the coat cupboard. Further searches by officers found Class B drugs lying on the floor of the living room easily accessible to the couple’s three daughters including their toddler. Class A drugs were also being kept inside the TV unit and coat cupboard.
Officers alerted Lambeth social services immediately due to the safeguarding risk presenting the children.
Hackney man caught in possession of a converted firearm
On 7th June, Linden Thomas, 24 was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment after he was found to be in possession of a converted firearm and a knife following a proactive stop and search. Improvised ammunition was later discovered at Linden’s home address in Hackney.
A New Met for London
The Met is building A New Met for London which aims to engage with communities, foster trust, and combat crimes including firearm offences. The Met’s response to firearms offences demonstrates our commitment to improving safety and security across the capital. Through prioritising community engagement and targeted interventions, the Met’s innovative approach represents a significant stride towards creating a safer environment for all Londoners.
