Annual Report 2019

Every gun tells a different story

Protecting everyone from the criminal use of firearms ANNUAL REPORT 2019

CONTENTS

3) A message from the Head of NABIS 4) NABIS SRO Sue Southern 5) Gun crime statistics 6) NPCC CUF Lead ACC Helen McMillan 7) Forensics 8) Keeping our communities safe 9) Operational Support 10) Intelligence Cell 11) Western Balkans project 12) Partnerships Experts 13) Annual budget report and the future

2 Every gun tells a different story DETECTIVE CHIEF JO CLEWS HEAD OF NABIS

I am delighted to present to you the Against Criminal Threats 2019 Annual Report as the new Head (EMPACT). The first action of the National Ballistics Intelligence supports the development of Service (NABIS). The role of NABIS in National Firearms Focal supporting law enforcement to Points and the second action safeguard communities from the seeks to promote enhanced criminal use of firearms is vitally ballistic analysis. NABIS is important and continues to evolve as also continuing to support the threat evolves. activity in the Western Balkans region through the An increase in funding last year from Conflict Stability and Chief has allowed NABIS Security Fund. This activity seeks to to recruit additional staff to enable enhance development of Firearms enhanced support to forces and Focal Points within Western Balkan law enforcement, particularly in countries. Continued engagement ensuring all relevant submissions are with European and International made. The benefits resulting from partners enables UK law enforcement this investment are starting to be to have a greater understanding of the realised, and NABIS has adjusted firearms threat within the UK and reporting to ensure the national beyond, along with identifying firearms threat picture is reported opportunities to mitigate that threat. upon as fully and in as timely a manner as possible. New technology Submissions to NABIS during 2018/19 is being utilised to support this have indicated an increase in firearms activity, which will continue to be discharges across the UK. The NABIS developed in to 2020. forensic hubs have worked hard to ensure quality of activity undertaken NABIS continues to work closely with is to the highest level, working to the NPCC lead for Criminal Use of transition to the new ISO 17025 2017 Firearms and this year has worked standard of forensic science with law enforcement partners to accreditation. NABIS continues to evolve the national approach to work with police forces and law tackling gun crime and activity to keep enforcement partners to fully our communities safe. The annual understand the threat posed by the conference for law enforcement was criminal use of firearms and in successful in raising awareness of the identifying activity to protect support NABIS and other key partners communities. The activity undertaken can provide, sharing information by NABIS continues to be critical in about current and emerging trends supporting investigations, along with sharing investigative best establishing evidential links between practice amongst law enforcement ballistic materials and firearms professionals. tracing. I look forward to working The relationship NABIS has with our alongside partners to continue to European colleagues to tackle the develop NABIS over the coming years movement and supply of firearms to protect everyone from the ever remains strong and I am confident evolving threat of the criminal use of that this will continue in 2020. The firearms. NABIS Head of Intelligence continues as an action leader under the EU European Multidisciplinary Platform 3

Protecting everyone from the criminal use of firearms ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Assistant Chief Sue Southern () – NABIS Senior Responsible Officer

ACC Southern became NABIS SRO in 2019, taking over from ACC Gareth Cann. She has worked for the force for many years in various roles and last year was on secondment to the (NCA) where she worked in the field of serious and organised crime. Whilst working for the NCA, ACC Southern was the National Strategic Firearms Threat Lead for the UK, and led the National Firearms Threat Group.

The NABIS SRO chairs the Governance Board which meets twice a year and is the link between the host force (WMP) and NABIS.

ACC Southern said: “The NABIS team carry out vital work to prevent and detect firearms crime and bring offenders to justice. The Governance Board has an important task to scrutinise this work and make sure NABIS can manage the changing firearms threat. On behalf of the Chiefs’ Council, I will ensure NABIS continues to work closely with police forces and law enforcement partners to keep communities safe.”

ACC Southern was awarded the Queens Police Medal (QPM) in the Queen’s New Year Honours at the start of 2020.

values:

• Public Safety First • Continuous Improvement • Act With Integrity • Work In Partnership • Communication Is Key

4 Every gun tells a different story Gun Crime On The Rise

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded offences involving firearms increased by 4% (to 9,787) in the year During 2018/19 NABIS ending March 2019 compared with the previous year. has identified a rise in firearms discharges across These offences have seen rises over the last five years but the rate of increase the UK. NABIS continues to see was slower over the last two years. There were 33 fatalities resulting from its highest number of firearms offences involving submissions since 2010, which firearms; this is three supports the information around more than the previous the increase in threat. year. Of all offences Nationally in 2018/2019 we saw a five involving a firearm, per cent increase in the number of the weapon was fired incidents involving firearms discharges in around half (51%) against the previous reporting year, of cases, and in most rising from 568 incidents in 2017/2018, other cases it was to 594 incidents in 2018/2019. This used as a threat represents the highest level of firearms (47%). discharges reported to NABIS in the decade since NABIS began reporting.

Three quarters of all discharges reported to NABIS take place in large metropolitan areas. Historically (over the last five The ONS say they are aware of years) the summer months have improvements in recording accounted for the highest number of practices by police to better firearms discharges. The two most identify the involvement of a prevalent discharge weapons are pistols firearm, which will have (at 38%) and shotguns (at 37%). contributed to this latest rise. However, the scale of the effect is Firearms continue to be used to cause unclear. These improvements have harm with just under one third of all impacted on offences identified as discharges (186, 31%) resulting in injuries involving "other firearms", which being sustained in 2018/19. A further four include weapons such as stun per cent (24) resulted in homicide. guns, CS gas and pepper spray. • On average every year police ONS stats relate to England & forces recover around 1,000 firearms, the and include all offences majority of these have not been involving a firearm, not just discharged. The majority of firearms discharges. identified in crime have only been used once. • Recorded levels of gun crime in the UK remain one of the lowest in the world. This is due in part to strict border controls, as well as strict legislation for firearms offences and sentencing guidelines. NABIS works in conjunction with law enforcement partners such as Border Force, the National Crime Agency and Home Office to share intelligence, stop the flow of illegal firearms and help bring offenders to justice.

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Protecting everyone from the criminal use of firearms ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Assistant Helen McMillan, NPCC Lead for Criminal Use of Firearms

This year is the 11th year of the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) with lots of fantastic work going on within law enforcement to tackle gun crime. I work in close partnership with NABIS as the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) Lead for the Criminal Use of Firearms and have been overwhelmed with the success of work on-going.

This year’s national firearms surrender Operation Aztec was a success with each force running a two week campaign to collect unwanted guns and ammunition, coordinated by NABIS. Operation Aztec has seen thousands of unwanted guns and ammunition handed in nationally. We have been overwhelmed with the public’s response in my home force to the national firearms surrender as more than 50 guns were handed over. The Operation has helped us to make the streets safer by the surrender of unwanted firearms. This Operation has no doubt saved lives and further protected our communities.

The surrender initiative and other on-going work is very much in support of the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy. As part of the Serious Violence Strategy the Home Office has awarded several police forces, including my own force Northumbria, with funding from the Serious Violence Fund to establish Violence Reduction Units (VRUs).

The Violence Reduction Units will lead and co-ordinate the local response to serious violence, bringing together a range of agencies including health, education, social services and others to develop a multi-agency approach to preventing serious violence altogether. The VRUs will implement a public health approach to stop children and young people from being drawn into crime and violence.

Another fantastic example of NABIS’ partnership work is evident in Operation Blush. Members of a crime gang in , were sent to prison for a total of 119 years after being charged with drugs and firearms offences as part of the extensive investigation. The Organised Crime Groups were involved in a conspiracy to possess firearms bringing fear to their communities. Those sentenced this year brought fear and intimidation to communities in Merseyside. NABIS worked closely with to help track links and show that the same firearm was responsible for several offences.

https://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2019/october/15- people-sentenced-to-119-years-for-firearms-and-drugs-offences/

NABIS will continue to work in collaboration with police forces and other partners to protect communities from the Criminal Use of Firearms and I am confident for another successful year moving forward.

6 Every gun tells a different story Did you know? We use a water tank to The two forensic test fire hand guns. The hubs directly water slows down the managed by NABIS speed of the bullet and are in Birmingham makes sure it is left and Manchester. In intact for our experts to these two locations ?examine our experts deal with ballistic items sent from all UK police forces apart from the Service in London and The year 2018/19 was Police who have their own ballistics extremely busy for our labs. We receive items collected from crime experts with figures scenes or perhaps firearms or ammunition showing they received a seized during police operations. total of

John Gorman has taken over from Sharon Fowler as the NABIS northern hub manager. 1231 Sharon has stayed with the NABIS team and submissions across both taken on a new role as Quality Manager. The Birmingham and NABIS hubs continue to host a variety of law Manchester sites from UK enforcement visitors for ballistics awareness police forces. This training, for example over the last few months compares to 1194 in we have welcomed colleagues from the 2017/18. The total number National Crime Agency, Home Office, Crown of exhibits submitted Prosecution Service and several guests from across both hubs was 3247; various foreign countries such as Greece, Italy this was made up of 1915 and the Netherlands. for the northern hub (Manchester) and 1332 for Our Chief Scientist Martin Parker was guest the central hub speaker at Olympia London security event in (Birmingham). March and represented NABIS at national FELWG meetings in the last 12 months. He also liaises on a regular basis with key Forensic Service Provider partners to share learning and best practice. Did you know? An exhibit could be a whole firearm, a component part or just a fragment of ammunition from a ?crime scene.

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Protecting everyone from the criminal use of firearms ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Keeping Our Communities Safe NABIS intelligence continues to help UK police forces prevent and detect gun crime. Our experts examine ballistic material from crime scenes and seized firearms, as well as giving evidence during court cases. Here are some examples of recent key investigations and successful outcomes:

Operation Blush – Merseyside Police 3D printed firearm – The investigation, codenamed Operation Blush, London man jailed began in February 2017 after the National Ballistics A man has been convicted Service identified that a Beretta on Merseyside had of manufacturing a been used 16 times within Merseyside. Officers were firearm using a 3D determined to find the weapon and take it off the printer, the first case of streets. its kind in the UK. Tendai Muswere, aged 26 This was a landmark linked series case in which (24.04.93), of Tachbrook NABIS worked closely with officers over many Street, SW1 pleaded guilty months. Members of a crime gang who were following a second raid on involved in a conspiracy to possess firearms, his home in February 2018 resulted in the discovery including a Beretta, an Uzi sub machine gun and a of further components of a 3D printed gun. He has Baikal self-loading pistol, have been sent to prison since been jailed for three years following a hearing for a total of 119 years. at Southwark Crown Court. Acting Detective Sergeant Jonathan Roberts, from the Met Police’s The gun and drug conspiracies span from Feb 2017 Central West CID, who led the investigation, said: to May 2018 and concentrated on 14 key events. "Muswere claimed that he was printing the firearms for a 'dystopian' university film project but he has not explained why he included the component parts Gun Factory necessary to make a lethal barreled weapon. We Two men have been jailed for a combined 29-and-a- know that Muswere was planning to line the printed half years for conspiring to sell handguns made at firearms with steel tubes in order to make a barrel an illegal gun factory in . capable of firing.

The factory in Diplocks Way, , was "This conviction, which I believe is the first of its kind uncovered in August 2018 after an operation led by relating to the use of a 3D printer to produce a officers from the National Crime Agency. Kyle Wood, firearm, has prevented a viable gun from getting into aged 30, from and Greg Akehurst, the hand of criminals and is an excellent example of aged 30, of no fixed abode, were both arrested on 18 great partnership working between detectives, August 2018. neighbourhood police and our forensic colleagues." For other examples of items making the news please It is believed to be the first time a criminal gun visit our website www.nabis.police.uk or follow us on factory of this nature has been found by UK law Twitter @NABIS_UK enforcement.

Three firearms were found on the day of the raid, including two made at the factory, but around 120 weapons were in the process of being manufactured at the site at the time. The NCA worked closely with on this case.

Since then a further six guns made at the Diplocks Way unit have been recovered by law enforcement, with one such weapon known to have been used in two attempted murders in London.

8 Every gun tells a different story OPERATIONAL SUPPORT Agreements to drive increased force and NABIS compliance with the MOU to achieve: The NABIS Operational Support department has grown this year and now consists of a Performance • Increased timeliness of incident registration to team, Database team, Business Services team and a NABIS Media Communications Manager. • Increased timeliness of forensic submissions for forensic analysis The Performance Team was formed in January 2019 • Reduced submissions and registrations gap and has a Performance Lead, a Performance • Timely NABIS collection services Analyst, a Business Support Officer and three Force • Timely forensic analysis Liaison Officers. The Performance team is now • Timely intelligence product dissemination. setting up the systems to begin reporting on force • A richer national database and NABIS performance. And a new short training awareness film has been The effectiveness of NABIS as a national service is produced to remind police forces how NABIS can dependent on its ability to provide factual help them. intelligence data. This is only possible if all police forces and contributing agencies submit material DATABASE: We continue to liaise with the Home and associated intelligence to NABIS in a timely Office around further development of the NABIS fashion. Delay may not only damage the operational database, which all forces have access to. Database effectiveness of both NABIS and UK law enforcement training is available free of charge and carried out by as a whole, but could also limit the effectiveness of a member of the Op Support team. investigations in force areas. MEDIA COMMS - NABIS has continued to engage Robust internal and external governance and with TV companies and other media organisations accountability alongside the analysis of NABIS MOU and filming has taken place at our Birmingham compliance will enable lasting improvements such forensic lab for various projects. We assisted with as: the BAFTA winning documentary film Gun No 6 • Increased intelligence links made on firearms and which aired in December 2018. We also took part in ballistic items the BBC Panorama programme around antique • Improved strategic and tactical support firearms which aired in August 2018 and BBC Inside • Faster national intelligence delivery Out for the North West region, featuring the work of • Efficient and effective resource utilisation our ballistics experts, was broadcast in January 2019. The framework will initially focus on a suite of core Key Performance Indicators and Service Level

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Protecting everyone from the criminal use of firearms ANNUAL REPORT 2019

INTELLIGENCE CELL expert groups. As a consequence of Brexit Firearms criminality in the UK Ian has vacated the remains one of the lowest in Chair but will the world, with offences continue attending the accounting for less than one EFE meetings as the per cent of reported crime. UK representative and However, there is a criminal lead on the upkeep of demand for firearms to the Firearms Glossary facilitate the commission of of Terminology. criminal activity, such as drugs supply. Firearms are also used Firearms EMPACT is in criminal feuds, for protection the EU Commission’s and for intimidation. response to disrupt OCGs involved in the The NABIS Intelligence Cell illicit trafficking, produce national and regional distribution and use of emerging trends. The Intelligence bulletins on a quarterly firearms. The Head of Intelligence recommendations from the profile and annual basis based on reports will continue as the Action Leader have been reviewed by forces for from the forensic hubs. These for two Operational Actions inclusion within their response to reports are circulated to UK police (National Firearms Focal Points & the threat posed by the loss and forces. NABIS also chairs the Ballistic Data Sharing) within the theft of shotguns and any National Gun Crime Intelligence Firearms EMPACT during 2020. subsequent involvement in Managers (NGCIM) meeting which is criminality. held every three months. CEPOL, EU Agency for Law

Enforcement Training, offers a Firearms Tracing is the systematic The NABIS Shotgun Problem Profile number of activities for law tracing of a firearm, from the point published this year has highlighted enforcement officers from across of manufacture to point of legal the extent to which shotguns are the EU, Western Balkans and the importation into a country to the increasingly being used in Middle East & North African last known possession of the criminality. The problem profile Countries, including awareness weapon. Tracing is essential for highlighted the extent to which firearms training to combat identifying person(s) responsible for shotguns are stolen from lawful firearms trafficking. Post Brexit the firearms offences and how they owners before subsequent NABIS Head of Intelligence will acquired the firearm, trafficking use/recovery in other force areas. continue to represent NABIS and networks and trafficking routes. It deliver training in respect of also provides UK investigators with The profile highlighted a disparity in Firearms Trafficking courses which additional intelligence and the level of recording of lost and are organised and funded by promotes opportunities for stolen firearms on NABIS compared CEPOL. international law enforcement to those recorded on the National investigations. Firearms Licensing Management The Intelligence Cell are now in the

System (NFLMS). Between 1st April process of writing different styled A firearm is deemed suitable for 2014 and 30th September 2018, only intelligence products following a firearms tracing if it has sufficient 59 per cent of all lost or stolen number of ‘Products Workshops’ serial number markings present, shotguns were recorded on the which took place in late 2019 to has been used in crime, is of a NABIS Database. NABIS address reporting issues and to suitable firearm type, and/or has recommended that all forces review gain a better understanding of the sufficient details such as their compliance with the NABIS purpose of their documents. In manufacturer information. Memorandum of Understanding addition the Intelligence Cell will

requirement to record thefts and look to identify ways that it can NABIS Head of Intelligence, Ian losses of firearms on the NABIS work more closely with forces and Head, has chaired the European Database. This enables a more in- agencies, with the aim of increasing Firearms Experts (EFE) meeting for depth analysis in relation to the the sharing of intelligence and six years. This is one of the EU Law types of thefts that occur and for enhancing the services provided. Enforcement Working Party (LEWP) NABIS to identify common and

10 Every gun tells a different story Western Balkans Project

NABIS continues to co-ordinate important work for the Home Office under the Conflict Stability and Security Fund within the Western Balkans region. The aim of the project is to develop the capability and capacity in the region to combat the threat from the international trafficking of firearms.

• We continue to liaise with ballistics labs in the region to support their aspiration towards ISO 17025 accreditation. Pre inspections of labs aiming for accreditation will take place this year to assist the labs to develop towards this goal. • We are now supporting the European Multidisciplinary NABIS Head of International Development Paula Parker Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) firearms says: “As part of the latest initiative within the Western work aimed at providing greater synergy between EU Balkans project, NABIS staff are undertaking an and Western Balkans. A number of training events and international intelligence database scoping exercise to meetings have been held in 2019 which have delivered identify good practice. The aim is to identify and use that against EMPACT action plans and enhanced good practice to develop an intelligence database that partnership work. could eventually be used within the Western Balkans • A multi-partner firearms roadmap has been developed region, within the Firearms Focal Points, subject to within the Western Balkans region. We are working regional support. The scoping is at the very early stages, alongside a number of critical partners towards and, subject to the Governance Board’s approval of the common goals, including the development of firearms wider programme as well as Home Office endorsement. focal points within each country in the region. If approved this work will continue across the remainder • NABIS sit on the South Eastern European Firearms of the wider Western Balkans programme. It is hoped Experts Network (SEEFEN) where we provide valuable that the database will not only enhance the intelligence advice and guidance in respect of ballistics forensics capability within the Western Balkans region, but will and intelligence. Our ballistics experts have delivered also support future intelligence databases within focal training to Western Balkans experts within this forum, points more widely.” and we have also hosted a number of visits of ballistics experts to UK NABIS labs. Paula added: “The last three years of NABIS work within • The project was originally due to end in March 2020 but the Western Balkans has resulted in the raising of the this important work will now continue beyond that UK policing profile within that region. Working alongside date, thus reducing the threat to the UK from the UNDP SEESAC, the European Commission and EMPACT, criminal trafficking of firearms. NABIS has positively represented UK policing at an international level. In turn staff from NABIS have been engaged at an international level and have experienced the positive effects of that exposure, which has enhanced the skills and expertise of NABIS staff. It is felt that the continued engagement of NABIS with the Western Balkans project can only continue to enhance the reputation of UK policing on an international footing.”

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Protecting everyone from the criminal use of firearms ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Mark Murray Flutter – Royal Armouries

As well as law enforcement partners NABIS work Mark currently has with other organisations such as Proof Houses, responsibility for the shooting groups such as BASC and educational civilian and hunting and establishments who specialise in Forensics and sporting collection. His Criminology, for example Staffordshire University. current research One of the other experts we call on for their interests are in firearm knowledge is Mark Murray Flutter – Senior Curator markings and codes, at the National Firearms Centre (Royal Armouries). the hunting field and Mark has a wealth of information and can help the British musket of police forces and NABIS identify historical or more the Napoleonic wars. unusual items which may come to light. He has also contributed articles to the Field Mark said: “For the museum community, magazine. amnesties, buy-in schemes and surrenders are a very important means of both collecting important In order to switch-off, historical firearms and for building relationships Mark indulges in the with their local police service” sport of fencing and coaches the next The museum community consists of: generation of talent. • National Museums • County or City Museums Mark is based in • Regimental and Corps Museums Leeds, to contact him e-mail: [email protected] Traditionally since the end of WWII museums have . been viewed and sanctioned by both the Home Office and the police service as acceptable points of disposal. Did you know? In order to acquire and possess such During the war the Home Office weapons these museums must hold a ran 3 pistol drives, July 1942, Sept. Museum Firearms Licence issued by the Home Office. 1943 and early 1945, through which members of the public surrendered Having completed his first degree in their pistols. History and International Relations (BA, University of Virginia, USA, 1978-1982), Mark returned to the UK, initially They were required by Special working in the fledgling green energy Operations Executive, as un- industry before entering the museum attributable firearms, to drop to the world, his first love. resistance in Europe and Asia. He joined the Tower Armouries in 1984 Approximately? 15,000 pistols initially in the edged weapons department and were surrendered. then subsequently as the Curator of Sporting & Hunting Weapons. While working at the Tower he completed a degree in Museum Studies (MA, University of London, 1987-1989). He was also one of the gallery designers for the new museum in Leeds, being responsible for the Hunting and Self- defence galleries, opened by the Queen in April 1996. Mark was the lead Curator for the Waterloo exhibition at the Royal Armouries (2015), co- authoring with Annette Wickham Daniel Maclise, The Waterloo Cartoon. (Royal Academy of Arts, Captain Fitzroy's pistols, Carried by him on HMS 2015) Beagle with Charles Darwin

Amnesty 1948, Royal Armouries 12 Every gun tells a different story BUDGET

NABIS is on track to meet its budget obligations for 2019/20. Funding from NPCC forces in the financial year 2019/20 for NABIS is £2,993,754, this rises to £3,295,754 when the contribution from Police Service of Northern Ireland, & the National Crime Agency is included.

For NPCC forces, this comprises previously agreed funding plus the first full year’s costs for additional funding as a result of the NABIS 2021 proposal approved by NPCC in April 2018.

In respect of non-NPCC forces and agencies, Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland contribute £50,000 each (£100,000 total), whilst the National Crime Agency contributes £167,000 for Database and Intelligence support. We also receive £35,000 from the Home Office to support administration of the Western Balkans Project. This is a total of £302,000, bringing the total income for NABIS for the financial year to £3,295,754.

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Protecting everyone from the criminal use of firearms ANNUAL REPORT 2019

The Crime, Policing & Fire Minister Kit Malthouse visited NABIS central hub in March 2020 and met with Head of Unit Det Ch Supt Jo Clews and other NABIS staff

14 Every gun tells a different story @NABIS_UK www.nabis.police.uk