Terror in Peckham, London, as an innocent woman shopper was shot in street yesterday as she was caught in the crossfire between two rival gangsters or gangs. The woman, a 30-year-old, was callously hit by a single bullet in Peckham, south London.

She was treated at the scene by paramedics and is now in hospital, said to be in a stable condition. Police are still searching for two gunmen who were caught on CCTV but have not been traced. Police believe that there was a row between two men, which resulted in guns being fired, after the row escalated into violence. Both men fled the scene yesterday afternoon.

Perhaps a sign of the times, with guns becoming more widespread in the UK, and a serious gun crime problem in the capital, London. Police had been called by members of the public reported gunshots and a bleeding woman in the street. They attended the scene at around 17:15 hrs on Sunday 11/03/2012 to Bournemouth Road, which is close to Rye Lane in SE15.

Detective Inspector Ray Keating is leading the investigation and has vowed to track down those responsible for this sickening incident which resulted in the life of an innocent woman being put at risk.

Editors Comments:

This is a sickening attack because an innocent bystander was shot with a gun. Criminals armed with guns often do not have the respect for life that normal law abiding citizens have, and this case shows that. Guns are becoming more widespread, especially in London. Criminals are able to access a vast array of illegal weapons on the black market and there is a serious concern that there is little that can be done to prevent the mass arming of criminals. When a gun can be bought for less than £100, there is the temptation for criminals to carry guns for protection, or to carry out crime. A zero tolerance attitude is needed when dealing with gun criminals. Of course every case has to be judged on the facts, but a serious deterrent is needed to try to reduce the numbers of criminals carrying guns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc-LRLUG_c0

Twice in the past year suspected gun criminals have been shot during operations to arrest them. The actual number of gun related instances police attend are so much higher, running into the thousands in the UK alone. Members of the public have little hope of fighting back against a gun wielding criminal, and whilst the call for honest citizens to be allowed to carry firearms is strong, I cannot see this happening any time soon in the UK. The best possible defence a citizen can have when on the street is armour, though it is sad that this is needed in a modern advanced society like ours.

Do you live in Peckham? do you fear for your safety? or is this just an isolated instance of gang violence?