Another British gun control failure

paramedic70002 · October 27th, 2009, 10:40 AM

Gulf Times ? Qatar?s top-selling English daily newspaper - Britain/Ireland

Man who found gun given wrong advice: police
London Evening Standard/London

A man who found a loaded gun linked to a gangland shooting was told by Scotland Yard to carry it across south London to a police station.
John Leary came across the weapon in a playground where it had been abandoned days after the crime. But the Met refused his request for a plain-clothes officer to collect it from his home.
Yesterday the force admitted major failings over the matter.
Disabled Leary, 51, found the weapon inside a plastic bag near his home on the Hemans estate in Stockwell. Speaking for the first time since the find, he said: “I was going to hang the bag on the railings until I felt its weight. When I looked inside there was a big revolver, a passport and some cash. It had a long barrel and I could see the chambers were loaded. There was no question of leaving it where kids play.”
Immediately after finding the revolver he was confronted by gang members who tried to get him to hand it over. But he refused and called police.
Officers suggested they send a patrol car to his house, but he refused for fear of reprisals from the gang members who had seen him carry the bag away. “I told them it was more than my life was worth,” said Leary.
Police then advised him to go to his local station, in Larkhall Park, Wandsworth Road, but it was closed. He had to travel 2.5 miles into Clapham to Lavender Hill police station, where an officer agreed to receive the weapon.
Leary was taken into the Met’s witness protection programme after the gang continued to target him, offering him £3,000 for the gun. They later subjected him to death threats and intimidation, forcing him to flee to his son’s home.
Detectives linked the gun to a gang shooting five days before it was found, and the inquiry was taken over by Operation Trident.
Leary — who still suffers leg injuries sustained in an unrelated attack a decade ago — later picked out two people at an identification parade.
But the Crown Prosecution Service ruled out a court case as the gun could not be linked to an individual.
The incident took place in 2005 but Leary said he had spoken out for the first time now because he had been “bitterly let down” by the police and Lambeth council.
“It beggars belief the police showed no urgency in collecting this gun after I’d put myself in danger. And the council were no better,” he said.
Lambeth accepted a police request to rehouse Leary, but have only offered a smaller one-bedroom flat.
They have also threatened to evict him because he took on the lease of his son’s home after spending more time there to escape the death threats.
Leary’s MP, Kate Hoey, said: “I was appalled by the treatment. He did a great public service and it is shocking he was not immediately moved out when the gang threatened him.”
An eviction hearing brought by the council last week at Wandsworth county court was adjourned after the judge criticised its housing policy.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said yesterday: “We fully accept Leary was given the wrong advice. It was wrong to ask him to walk the streets with a gun in the bag, because it could easily have led to his own arrest.”
A Lambeth spokesman said Leary had been assessed as requiring only a one-bedroom property since his children no longer lived at home.

edr9x23super · October 27th, 2009, 10:56 AM

Wow, government determining everything, even where you can and can't live - people get what they deserve, I guess......Who was it that said a government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all away??

packinnova · October 27th, 2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edr9x23super

Wow, government determining everything, even where you can and can't live - people get what they deserve, I guess......Who was it that said a government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all away??

+1...The last line says it all. This is the way we're headed with healthcare and if we don't put a stop to it soon...everything else including firearms.

BlueNinjaGo · October 27th, 2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paramedic70002

offering him £3,000 for the gun.

Wow, I just had a brilliant business idea!!!

(J/K, it'd be highly illegal and I'd never recommend anyone do such a thing...)

Rustynuts · October 28th, 2009, 05:16 PM

I think the UK police were scared of the gun.

snuggles · October 28th, 2009, 08:10 PM

Stuff like this also enforces the idea that doing nothing is preferable to the right thing.

Tom G · October 28th, 2009, 11:03 PM

Sounds as if the UK has a lot of criminal activity and hesitate to mess with the gangs.The UK denies guns to the law abiding citizens or subjects while the gangs do their thing.

tiwee · October 29th, 2009, 12:01 AM

Remember. Our ancestors ran from countries like these so they could make a better life for themselves and for us. We must never ever let USA government get our guns. Once that happens, it is all over for us also.

October 27th, 2009, 10:40 AM	#1
paramedic70002 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Franklin, VA Posts: 2,684	Another British gun control failure Gulf Times ? Qatar?s top-selling English daily newspaper - Britain/Ireland Man who found gun given wrong advice: police London Evening Standard/London A man who found a loaded gun linked to a gangland shooting was told by Scotland Yard to carry it across south London to a police station. John Leary came across the weapon in a playground where it had been abandoned days after the crime. But the Met refused his request for a plain-clothes officer to collect it from his home. Yesterday the force admitted major failings over the matter. Disabled Leary, 51, found the weapon inside a plastic bag near his home on the Hemans estate in Stockwell. Speaking for the first time since the find, he said: “I was going to hang the bag on the railings until I felt its weight. When I looked inside there was a big revolver, a passport and some cash. It had a long barrel and I could see the chambers were loaded. There was no question of leaving it where kids play.” Immediately after finding the revolver he was confronted by gang members who tried to get him to hand it over. But he refused and called police. Officers suggested they send a patrol car to his house, but he refused for fear of reprisals from the gang members who had seen him carry the bag away. “I told them it was more than my life was worth,” said Leary. Police then advised him to go to his local station, in Larkhall Park, Wandsworth Road, but it was closed. He had to travel 2.5 miles into Clapham to Lavender Hill police station, where an officer agreed to receive the weapon. Leary was taken into the Met’s witness protection programme after the gang continued to target him, offering him £3,000 for the gun. They later subjected him to death threats and intimidation, forcing him to flee to his son’s home. Detectives linked the gun to a gang shooting five days before it was found, and the inquiry was taken over by Operation Trident. Leary — who still suffers leg injuries sustained in an unrelated attack a decade ago — later picked out two people at an identification parade. But the Crown Prosecution Service ruled out a court case as the gun could not be linked to an individual. The incident took place in 2005 but Leary said he had spoken out for the first time now because he had been “bitterly let down” by the police and Lambeth council. “It beggars belief the police showed no urgency in collecting this gun after I’d put myself in danger. And the council were no better,” he said. Lambeth accepted a police request to rehouse Leary, but have only offered a smaller one-bedroom flat. They have also threatened to evict him because he took on the lease of his son’s home after spending more time there to escape the death threats. Leary’s MP, Kate Hoey, said: “I was appalled by the treatment. He did a great public service and it is shocking he was not immediately moved out when the gang threatened him.” An eviction hearing brought by the council last week at Wandsworth county court was adjourned after the judge criticised its housing policy. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said yesterday: “We fully accept Leary was given the wrong advice. It was wrong to ask him to walk the streets with a gun in the bag, because it could easily have led to his own arrest.” A Lambeth spokesman said Leary had been assessed as requiring only a one-bedroom property since his children no longer lived at home. __________________ Guns Save Lives. Paramedics Save Lives. But... Paramedics With Guns Scare People!

October 27th, 2009, 10:56 AM	#2
edr9x23super Distinguished Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,736	Wow, government determining everything, even where you can and can't live - people get what they deserve, I guess......Who was it that said a government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all away?? __________________ "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined". - Patrick Henry

October 29th, 2009, 12:01 AM	#8
tiwee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ozarks Posts: 1,027	Remember. Our ancestors ran from countries like these so they could make a better life for themselves and for us. We must never ever let USA government get our guns. Once that happens, it is all over for us also. __________________ Amendment 2 advocate - Trying to explain the obvious to the oblivious.

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October 28th, 2009, 05:16 PM	#5
Rustynuts Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 636	I think the UK police were scared of the gun.

October 28th, 2009, 08:10 PM	#6
snuggles Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 45	Stuff like this also enforces the idea that doing nothing is preferable to the right thing.

October 28th, 2009, 11:03 PM	#7
Tom G VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,053	Sounds as if the UK has a lot of criminal activity and hesitate to mess with the gangs.The UK denies guns to the law abiding citizens or subjects while the gangs do their thing.