Huge rise in Midland shootings More cases in three months than Manchester, Liverpool and WestYorkshire combined

THE West Midlands has seen 57 shootings in just over three months – more than Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire combined.

Analysis of reported shootings and tip-offs from the public indicates that a large proportion of the firearms discharges took place in Birmingham, which is in the middle of a new gangs war.

The latest shooting incident took place on Broad Street last Tuesday night when a gunman fired at the window of the Cyclone Club from a moving car. No-one was injured.

The alarming figures come as West Midlands Police tackles an explosion of violence, partly involving emerging gangs in south Birmingham.

Gangs such as the ‘Frankley Killers’, the ‘247365’ and the ‘61’ have been involved in violent clashes involving guns and knives in the Northfield area.

There were a total of 45 recorded firearms discharges in the West Midlands from April 1 to June 30 this year. A further 12 have taken place in July.

The figure is more than the combined total for comparable forces of Greater Manchester, which saw 10 incidents during the same period, Merseyside, which recorded 31, and West Yorkshire, which had 11. Both Manchester and Liverpool have also had historical issues with gangs and guns.

The West Midlands Police force area has a population of 2.8 million, while the combined population of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police is 6.5 million.

New figures show that in the West Midlands, 18 firearms incidents took place in April, with seven in May and 20 in June.

Figures for July show that there have been a further 12 incidents so far, including the Broad Street driveby shooting, less than halfway through the month.

Anecdotal reports suggest the Birmingham shootings have been concentrated in communities including Erdington, Small Heath, Sparkbrook and the south of the city, where the new gangs have emerged, although it is unclear how many are gang-relat- ed. On June 24, a man was shot in the back in a barber’s shop in Nursery Road, Lozells.

Two gunmen fled the scene in a black car after the shooting. The victim, 23, was rushed to hospital where his condition was described as ‘serious but stable’.

On June 21, a shooting took place outside a primary school in the Jewellery Quarter – with bullets hitting a staff member’s car.

Armed officers were called to St Edmund’s Primary School in Rosebery Street after a gunman fired two shots at a cyclist. The rider fled inside the school to escape.

There were three shooting incidents in Birmingham over the May Bank Holiday, including a gunman opening fire at the Heavenly Desserts diner in Sparkbrook.

A man also survived being shot in Parkside, Bartley Green, in another incident on the Bank Holiday Sunday.

On the same day, up to 20 youths are said to have been involved in a mass brawl in Weoley Castle, where a shotgun was allegedly seen. Officers were called to the fracas in the Weoley Castle Road and Castle Square area.

Top UK grime star Saphan Robinson, 26 was blasted with a shotgun in Quinton’s Bourne Green last week.

West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson last week praised his officers for tackling a weekend summer crimewave – and said he hoped for rain.

The violence had included three murders and an attempted murder.

“This weekend has been ferociously busy and packed with senseless violence,” he said. “Thank you to West Midlands Police staff and now let it rain please!”