Half of Shootings in London Remain Unsolved Despite Increasing Prosecutions, Police Report

Statistics released by the Metropolitan Police show that nearly half of the investigations into shootings in London did not result in any convictions. However, the percentage of investigations leading to prosecution has risen to 52 percent, the highest in 11 years.

The shooter, who fled on a stolen motorbike, remains at large almost three weeks after the incident.

The Met highlighted that fear often prevents witnesses from coming forward with evidence or sharing crucial information like doorbell camera footage.

Commander Paul Brogden emphasized the importance of trust within communities, urging witnesses to come forward with evidence to ensure their safety.

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“People are worried, people are frightened, victims are frightened and often are reluctant to come forward. We encourage them to trust us, we will keep them safe,” he added.

‘Our Outcome Rates Have Improved’

“While our outcome rates have improved, there are 48 percent that we haven’t managed to solve,” said Mr. Brogden.

One shooting that will go down as unsolved is an attack on a couple who were asleep at their home in northwest London on Jan. 16, 2022.

Shots were fired at their front door but nobody was injured.

Last year Meckeal Pond, a rapper better known as Ratlin, was acquitted of attempted murder at the Old Bailey.

Prosecutor Nicola Merrick claimed said the shooting incident was linked to an incident in which the rapper’s chain was ripped off him at a nightclub in Edmonton, north London, a few hours earlier.

But Mr. Pond and his cousin, Reece Pond, denied attempted murder, possession of a firearm self-loading pistol, and theft of the car and were acquitted.

Mr. Brogden said detectives have “long memories” and will investigate for years.

Last week two members of a gang in Newham, east London, were jailed for life for murdering a rival in April 2021 in an incident in which a sawn-off shotgun was used.

Awadh Saleh and Rio Burton-Devine, both 25, were sentenced to a minimum of 36 and 31 years respectively after Junior Jah, 18, was shot in Custom House, east London. Saleh then stabbed the teenager several times as he lay dying.

‘Brutal, Cowardly, and Wanton’ Murder

Judge Mark Dennis, KC described the killing as “brutal, cowardly, and wanton.”

The Met said around half of shootings in London are believed to be linked to organised crime or gang rivalries.

In some cases, say the police, the victims seek to get retribution themselves without involving law enforcement.

Detective Superintendent Victoria Sullivan, who is based in southeast London, said, “Often the victim themselves who’s been shot do not want to divulge to police and that might be because they’re seeking retribution themselves.”

“So potentially today’s victim could be tomorrow’s suspect. And that’s why it’s really important that we act really, really quickly to try and dissolve that situation,” she added.

Last month, Ricardo Anderson, 21, received a 16-year prison sentence for shooting at rivals in a car in Tottenham, north London. The Met noted a decrease in the number of shootings and gun-related murders in London.

For instance, the number of shootings decreased from 196 in 2022/2023 to 145 in 2023/2024, while gun-related murders fell from 12 to 8 during the same period.

Two gun-related murders have been recorded so far this year: Janayo Lucima, 21, was shot dead in West Kensington on Easter bank holiday Monday, and Jazmel Patterson-Low, 26, was shot dead in Lambeth on May 11.

Seven individuals have been charged in connection with Lucima’s murder, but no arrests have been made in relation to Patterson-Low’s case.

PA Media contributed to this report.