The Citizen has launched a campaign to sweep guns off the streets of Gloucester.

It follows the release of figures that show that gun crime has risen 35 per cent nationwide in the past year, with 47 guns seized in Gloucester in the last 18 months.

Citizen editor Ian Mean said: “Any self-respecting, law-abiding citizen will doubtless give full backing to The Citizen campaign to make Gloucester a gun free city.

“The facts scream out an urgent need for this goal to be achieved.”

The campaign charter includes banning the sales of replica guns in Gloucester and introducing an education programme within schools to discourage gun use.

It is also calling for a gun amnesty, zero tolerance policing on new gun laws; for both real and replica guns, and a ‘shop a gunman’ campaign in association with Crimestoppers.

The paper’s campaign is being backed by the city’s councillors.

Conservative group leader, Mark Hawthorne said: “In response to increasing public concern about crime involving guns, and statistics confirming their use is growing, this council plans to work with police, schools and The Citizen to make Gloucester a gun free city.”

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