Shooting on Firshill Road

Residents remain concerned after a shots were fired at a house on Firshill Road late on Monday 21st January, 2008. No one was injured and no arrests have been made.

A resident reported that there had been an earlier incident. At around 6pm, several young men with a dog had intimidated another young man living on the street. This escalated to a car windscreen being smashed.

The resident said,

“I reported it to the police via 101, and I warned them that the situation was dangerous and would escalate – there was no reponse from the police until after the shooting. They are aware of the problems at shop on the street, but have a history of not discouraging anti-social elements from hanging around.”

The Messenger spoke to Adrian McWalter, the new Inspector of Burngreave's Police team, who insisted that the earlier incident was responded to and that it was unconnected with the later shooting:

"The Safer Neighbour Police Officers did attend the earlier incident and a community impact assessment was carried out. We don't think the shooting is gang related or that it is connected to any other incidents in the area. An investigation is being carried out by CID. Of all the areas I police, Burngreave is the least problematic, we have the lowest crime figures.

The police are making door to door enquiries, and there will be increased patrols on the street. When asked about problems on Firshill Road that have been raised by residents many times before, Inspector McWalter said:

“If there are ongoing problems on Firshill Road we need residents to talk to us, but they need to bring us firm facts if we are to act.”

The resident we spoke to believes the police response is poor:

“The police just want to leave problems in Burngreave. Most residents including me, feel unsafe, especially for our children.”

Police are asking for witnesses or anyone with more information to some forward. Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111