A man has been shot dead in east London, days after a spate of gun killings in the city. The man, in his 20s, was found with fatal gun wounds in a car in Hackney early on Saturday.

 

His death comes days after three teenagers were killed in south London, including 15-year-old Billy Cox, the second youth to die in his own home.

 

Armed police were deployed on the streets near Billy's home overnight and were searching suspicious vehicles.

 

The latest incident in London comes as police in Manchester investigate a shooting of another teenager, who was injured in the back in the Moss Side area of the city.

 

Following the killing in Hackney, police are searching for two black men seen making off towards Digby Road.

 

The victim was found in a Fiat Punto in Homerton High Street and was later taken to Homerton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

 

Officers from the Metropolitan's Operation Trident unit are investigating the incident.

 

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said officers working under Operation Neon arrested three people during the patrols in south London.

 

Two were arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and one on suspicion of possessing drugs.

 

On Friday, Billy's father Tommy appealed for help in catching the killers of his son, who died in their Clapham home.

 

Mr Cox said his son was "not perfect" but he was "dearly loved as a son and brother".

 

His shooting followed the deaths of James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, and Michael Dosunmu, 15, who were gunned down in Streatham and Peckham respectively.

 

In response to the killings, Home Secretary John Reid announced he was investigating handing out tougher sentences to tackle gun crime and gang culture.

 

"I have also asked my lawyers to look at ways of possibly strengthening legislation and, where appropriate, sentencing," he said, following a meeting with MPs and senior police officers.

 

"We also need to make people face up to their responsibilities as parents and families and last but not least we need to empower local communities."

 

But Professor Rod Morgan, who last month resigned as head of the Youth Justice Board, said tougher sentences would be of "very little relevance".

 

"The Home Secretary is under enormous pressure to make symbolic statements and gestures," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

 

"But in all honesty, deterrents only work if people are likely to be caught The real deterrent is the prospect of getting caught.

 

"The subsequent punishment, whether it's three years, five years or more, is of very little relevance in terms of deterring the behaviour."

 

He said police work on the ground to help prevent the problems from escalating was the most important action needed.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6370693.stm

Teenager hurt in street shooting

 

A teenager is recovering in hospital after being shot in the back during an attack in the street.

The 18-year-old was injured on Friday night, in the Moss Side area of Manchester.

 

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police said, although the bullet may be lodged in his body.

 

The incident, in Raby Street, took place close to where 15-year-old Jessie James was shot dead in September last year. His killer has not been found.

 

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said the shooting on Friday took place at about 2100 GMT.

 

'No exit wound'

 

"An 18-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his back and was taken to hospital," he said.

 

"His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening."

 

Doctors are understood to believe he has a bullet entry wound in his back, but there is no exit wound.

 

Raby Street is close to where Jessie was shot dead, as he rode his mountain bike near Broadfield Park last September.

 

Despite national appeals for help in finding his killer, no arrests have been made.

 

Detectives said Jessie had nothing to do with gang and gun culture and was simply in the "wrong place at the wrong time".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6370825.stm