'Respect' shooting - a new wave of gun crime in London

Tilak S. Fernando in London

A new wave of gun crime amongst teenagers in London fuelled by what is known as "Teenage Respect Shootings" is becoming an alarming trend according to the Metropolitan Police . The latest trend is that young criminals carrying firearms have started to shoot indiscriminately to injure innocent victims rather than to kill.

Metropolitan Police has seized more than 10,000 guns as the " Respect" shootings have begun to increase, and the latest figures indicate that officers have confiscated hundreds of handguns, shot guns and sub-machine guns up to July.

Last week, three youths of 12 were arrested in a raid on 124 suspected young gang members. Police has seized knives, guns, imitation firearms, and cash.

Organised Crime and Criminal Networks unit, head said "a small element of people is prepared to use very extreme levels of violence for seeming very little reason". Met Police Commander Martin Hewitt states, "Extreme levels of violence for a seemingly very little reason have become a new phenomenon".