Shootings have fallen by half in the West Midlands – but police admit ‘even one is too many’
17:57, 04 Jan 2026Updated 17:58, 04 Jan 2026
Police have issued an inside look at the ’24/7 fight against gun crime’ across Birmingham as new figures reveal a huge drop in the number of shootings.
West Midlands Police released a day-in-the-life style footage spanning across five shifts, alongside the caption: “See inside our fight against gun crime.”
Dramatic scenes showed everything from armed officers preparing for a raid to pursuits and arrests made in the street.
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It comes as the number of shootings in the West Midlands has fallen by nearly half, with 77 confirmed firearms discharges last year (2025) – compared with 109 in 2024.
The fall from 2021 is even larger. There were 151 firearms discharges that year meaning, the number of shootings has halved over four years, police said.
Meanwhile, the number of guns taken off the streets has increased to more than 160 last year. However, police admit the number of shootings will always be “one too many.”
Supt Ryan Chambers, from the force’s major crime unit (MCU), said: “While it’s really positive that the number of firearms discharges has gone down, we know that even one is one too many.
“The devastation that gun crime causes is immense. Even in cases where no one has been injured, we know the fear that people living in the area experience in the aftermath of a shooting.
“We continue to work flat out in our pursuit of those involved in gun crime, alongside neighbourhood officers, intelligence analysts, and other specialist capabilities to ensure that there is no hiding place for people who think it’s acceptable to arm themselves with firearms.”
Have you been affected by gun crime in Birmingham? We would like to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing stephanie.balloo@reachplc.com