West Midlands shootings: Police pledge to continue taking firearms off streets after spate of attacks
A West Midlands police boss has pledged to continue taking firearms off the streets in a week when three shootings took place.
Three arrests have been made over firearms offences and an 18-year-old woman was shot in the chest in separate incidents in the Black Country within days of each other.
On Saturday the 18-year-old woman was shot in the chest in broad daylight in Hughes Avenue, Bradmore, and has remained in hospital since in a serious but stable condition. No arrests have yet been made.
Three days earlier two men, aged 19 and 20, were injured in a double shooting in Poplar Road, Bearwood. They are now in a stable condition.
Two men, aged 22 and 24, who were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder have been bailed pending further enquiries.
West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable Mark Payne said today: "We've seen a large reduction in various types of crime including violence and knife-related crime over the last 12 months.
"We've seen a small increase in firearms offences so far this year, but as the second largest force in the country we have to acknowledge that despite our best efforts there will always be some firearms-related incidents.
"We have teams dedicated to tackling firearms offences and as a result we have taken more guns off the streets this year compared to the previous year."
