Met’s Firearms Crackdown Hits New Highs
A crack team of Met detectives is waging war on illegal guns, driving firearms offences in London to a 15-year low.
Dedicated officers from across the capital are smashing serious organised crime groups, ensuring guns have no place on London’s streets. Their relentless efforts have seen a record 386 illegal firearms seized last year – that’s more than one every day.
Fewer Shootings, More Justice
The Met boasts its highest detection rate for shooting offenders in over a decade, prosecuting 52% of criminals caught with firearms. Since March 2023, firearms offences dropped from 196 to just 145.
Gun-related murders have steadily fallen too: from 12 in 2021/22, down to eight in 2023/24.
Commander Paul Brogden said: “Guns destroy lives and communities. The Met’s ongoing fight sends a clear warning to criminals: we will find you and bring you to justice.”
Targeted Success Across London Boroughs
- In Harrow, Brent and Barnet, no firearms murders have occurred since 2020 — a major drop from previous years. Since then, 80 offenders have been charged, with 64 convicted and jailed for a combined 367 years.
- Specialist officers in Lambeth and Southwark cut firearms offences by 44%, from 45 to 25 last year.
- Westminster saw a major operation net 51 arrests, 17 guns, 17kg of drugs, and £150,000 in seized criminal assets.
Tragic Toll: Remembering Tyrese Miller
Tyrese Miller, 22, was fatally shot in Croydon in April 2023 in a case of mistaken identity. One man pleaded guilty to manslaughter and firearm possession. Tyrese’s mother, Jackie Taylor, shared a heart-breaking message:
“I worry that if this can happen to Tyrese, it can happen to anyone. No mother should have to bury their son. What happened has changed all of us forever.”
Latest Arrests and Sentences
- Danny Butler, 44, was jailed for 18 years after guns were found hidden in his children’s bedrooms in Lambeth — including loaded handguns and drugs accessible to toddlers.
- Linden Thomas, 24, from Hackney, was sentenced to 6 years for possession of a converted firearm and knives, following a police stop and discovery of improvised ammunition at his home.
A New Met for a Safer London
The Met’s fresh community-driven strategy is cracking down on guns and building trust in affected neighbourhoods. Through data, forensics, and cutting-edge tech, officers are closing in on gun dealers and gang members – making London safer, one arrest at a time.
