Mothers launch gun amnesty

The mothers of two teenage girls shot dead while celebrating New Year called on holders of illegal guns to give them up today at the start of a nationwide firearms amnesty.

Marcia Shakespeare and Beverley Thomas, whose daughters, Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18, were murdered in Birmingham, said gun crime had devastated their lives.

The two women were speaking at the launch of West Midlands Police's month-long amnesty. Every other police force in Britain is also taking part.

In a statement read out at Handsworth Community

Fire Station, Birmingham, on behalf of both mothers of the college art student friends, Mrs Shakespeare said: "As mothers, our lives have been turned upside down and the horrific trauma we have all experienced will always stay with us.

"We have all been totally devastated by the loss of Charlene and Letisha and there is nothing we can do to bring them back. That is the reality of gun crime."

The amnesty is being held in advance of new Government legislation which will impose a minimum five-year prison sentence on anyone caught with an illegal firearm.

Those in possession of guns, including replicas and blank firers, are being encouraged to hand them in at any police station, with no threat of prosecution.

The amnesty launch was also being attended by Letisha's aunt, Sandra Thomas, and the Anglican Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Revd John Sentamu, who led Charlene's funeral last month.

Most watched News videos