Speaking out over gun gangs

Jean Gibbons remembers the old Whitmore Reans. "It was a decent, respectable area where you weren't afraid to play in the parks and you weren't afraid to walk the streets.

"Now, unless you've got 10 rottweilers or an Uzi you don't go out after 10."The 53-year-old, who was born in Lloyd Street and has lived in the area all her life, is one of the many decent residents of the area who are speaking out against gun crime.

The most recent attack came earlier this month when a man was shot in the foot near The Pegasus pub.

Last month, two shots were fired in Armstrong Drive, Dunstall. Three hours later gunfire was heard in Sweetman Street, Whitmore Reans. There have been a number of other shootings in the city - most dramatically in Temple Street in the city centre in broad daylight.

Community sources say several factors lie behind unrest in Whitmore Reans.

Personal rivalries between gang members and disputes triggered by violence outside the city can spill over into tit-for-tat violence. There has also been a history of tension between Heath Town and Whitmore Reans gang members.

"It used to be a sociable area. You knew each other and people could leave their doors open," says Jean. "This could be a nice area but the residents have got to fight if they want it to get better."

She blames some of the problems on the council moving problem families to the area. A number of community meetings have been held in the area, although the police and Press have not been invited to some of them.

There has even been talk of a rally against gun crime. Tina Ashley, 49, has lived in the area for 30 years and feels it is no longer safe to walk around at night.

"They say children aren't getting exercise, but it's not safe to let them out," she said. "The police know who these people are and they should deal with them," she added.

Suzanne Goff, 33, has lived in the area for five years. Her 13-year-old daughter was turned away from her paper round by police after one of the shootings. "Five years ago, it wasn't that bad," said Suzanne. "My 14-year-old daughter was mugged for her mobile phone on Gatis Street."

Despite people's perceptions of the Whitmore Reans problems, crime fell 23 per cent over the last three months. But police are all too aware of the devastating impact guns and drugs have on people's fear of crime.

Last week Sgt Bal Mand, who is responsible for the Whitmore Reans neighbourhood, updated residents on recent developments. "We've had four notable arrests," he told a packed meeting at The Elms centre in Manby Close.

"Those four are remanded in custody on serious firearms charges and we believe that's had some impact. We know the community wants to work towards a more peaceful environment. Some meetings have already taken place in the community, and we feel that we should be more part of it.

"We should really be forming an integral part of any resolutions. It's not just a problem for Whitmore Reans.

He said young people from Whitmore Reans had been the victims, not perpetrators, of a number of the incidents.

Council leader Councillor Roger Lawrence said the gunmen were running the risk that innocent passers-by could become "collateral damage".

"That's not acceptable. There's a large amount of concern in the community. It's about trying to work out who these large disaffected groups of people are and what we can do. Is it about school exclusions or their expectations? Some of them have a very barren view of what their lives will come to," he added.

He said top-level meetings between council and police chiefs were taking place, but admitted some hardened gang members were beyond help from extra funding.

Bett Gardner, who has lived in Whitmore Reans for eight years, said she was horrified by the shootings. She said she had not been directly affected by the shootings, but felt for those who had been.

The 69-year-old said: "We had a gang of about 30 youths with baseball bats about two years ago, but there's not been another incident. They gather in Dunstall Hill and do a lot of drugs. Half the crime is around drugs. They aren't allowed to smack them at school and so it starts at a young age."

Another woman, who has lived in the area for 17 years, said: "Things have got worse. We need more support from housing. I saw a group of youths smoking weed outside my door. They were smoking weed and I asked them to move but this is what I'm faced with."

One woman, a mother, said she had heard shots fired in Sweetman Street. "I saw a group of youths earlier and I knew there was going to be an incident. I've had to put my own security lights to make sure my car is safe," she added.

Another woman, in her 50s, said: "I've lived here since 1984 and it's much worse now."

One mother, who asked not to be named, said: "They are selling drugs outside my house. We're too frightened to speak up. I'm that frightened now that I want the police to put cameras on my bungalow. There are cars doing 70mph in a dead end. I'm petrified to live there, but why should I have to move?"

How can people tackle gun violence in their communities? Send us your views here

Popular stories:

• Children snub healthy meals

• Man’s body found in village pool

• Plant blooms after 30 years

• Video - Auctioneers revisit Decades of Design

• Video - Football: Wolves and Albion