Fall in West Midlands gun crime down to policing and community efforts

More than 10 years ago, the West Midlands was dubbed the gun crime capital of England and Wales.

Figures at the time reflected that notoriety - there were more firearms offences per head in the West Midlands Police force area than anywhere else.

New figures seen by BBC News show shootings in the West Midlands force area - covering Birmingham, Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Coventry - have dropped significantly over the past six years.

While the numbers are not directly comparable, due to the criteria in the way they were gathered and published, in 2002-03 the force recorded about 1,300 gun crimes, external, compared with 504 in the 2024 calendar year, external.

In 2020-21, there were a total of 157 firearms discharges, while a year later in 2021-2022 there were 148.

Zimbo says there are more influential voices now that young people listen to

The force said the fall was down to way it now dealt with firearms incidents.

He was jailed for six years for possessing a semi-automatic weapon as a teenager and was in and out of prison for two decades.

"There's more people that have been involved in that life talking about it, turning away from it and speaking bad about it in the sense that this isn't the right way to go.

A 3D printed semi-automatic gun, sawn-off shotgun and converted blank firearms are among the weapons that have been seized and are in the police armoury

Zimbo also credits various organisations across Birmingham which are working with young people and delivering projects, and the impact that is having.

It is this kind of work, he suggests, that is leading Birmingham to "become more of a village."