A dramatic DVD, devised by a South Yorkshire Police officer about the dangers of gun and knife gang culture, has attracted interest from Europe, Asia, USA, Australia and the Far East. Copies have also been requested by other police forces across Britain while local authorities, colleges and other organisations have also commended the video. Even former Prime Minister Tony Blair was presented with one.

‘Game Over’ was written and directed by PC Peter Greenhough, Operational Support Services, with help from Corporate Communications and produced by Diva. They worked with pupils from Sheffield’s Firth Park Community Arts College who played a leading role in the five-minute film, which is set to hip hop music and can be downloaded from the Internet.

It forms part of a massive campaign to tackle gun and knife crime in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside, funded by £75,000 from the Home Office. The campaign is also being promoted by the Royal Armouries in Leeds who are hosting a number of guns and knives awareness events for schools.
The initiative comes at a time when the issue of gang and gun culture is firmly back in the spotlight following the fatal shootings and stabbings of teenage boys in the London area. However, Assistant Chief Constable Bob Dyson, who bid for the cash, explained that the initiative was not a knee-jerk response to incidents elsewhere in the country.

He said: “This pro-active initiative had been planned for several months and aims to
prevent people, particularly youngsters,
becoming involved in gun and knife crime.”

“The number of these incidents remains quite low across our region. Most involve younger people, often after relatively minor disputes. But as has been seen in other parts of the country, the outcomes can be fatal and impact on the whole community.”

“Our message is clear – guns and knives take lives – and we need everyone, including parents, to work together to keep communities safe.”

The campaign also featured a month-long gun amnesty, launched the beginning of March, as well as police enforcement in all three Force areas. More than 40 weapons were surrendered at special bins in main South Yorkshire police stations during the first week of the amnesty. These included nine air pistols, 11 air rifles, 16 toy guns, four BB guns, a starting pistol and two knives.

Mr Dyson added: “This amnesty was part of our wider pro-active campaign. Every firearm we managed to take out of circulation was one less posing a danger to the public. That included parents surrendering BB guns and air weapons that often feature in the firearms incidents we respond to.”

“My message to the criminal fraternity is simple – either surrender your firearms or we will come and take them from you.”