Birmingham full scale of the city’s gun problem is exposed today

POLICE are being called out to a gun incident in Birmingham on average once a week, the Sunday Mercury can reveal.
The full scale of the city’s gun problem is exposed today, as the Mercury details how police have responded to 30 gun-related crimes already this year.
Chillingly, gangland sources say there is no end in sight for the plague of firearms violence.
And one Birmingham dad, whose son was left fighting for life after being shot in the back in broad daylight by gang members, fears the streets are not safe.
“I’m not surprised by the fact that there’s been 30 gun incidents. I don’t think enough is being done, it is still a huge problem,” said the 52-year-old, who asked not to be named.
“It’s very scary out there. I didn’t bring my lad into this world to see him gunned down in the street.
“There seems to be an attitude that if they’re just shooting each other then it’s OK – sooner or later the ones who did it will be wiped out – but innocent people are getting hurt.
“There’s 30 incidents that we know about, but that’s probably only half the story. A lot goes unreported because these lads don’t want to go to hospital or get involved with the police.
“Lives are wasted on both sides, young lads are getting killed or maimed for life, and the ones doing the shooting are getting sent to prison for 20 years or more. Families are hurting every way you look at it.
“Nothing has changed. If anything, it is getting worse.”