Gun discharges across the West Midlands Police area have fallen by more than half in six years, according to figures from the force.
There were 157 firearms discharges in 2020-21, compared with 69 last year. The force recorded 30 in the first seven months of 2026. The figures cover Birmingham, Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Coventry.
Recorded gun crime has also fallen from about 1,300 offences in 2002-03 to 504 in 2024, although the figures were collected and published using different criteria and are not directly comparable.
Police and communities share the credit
West Midlands Police attributes the improvement partly to its major crime unit, which handles every firearms report as if it were a murder investigation. The force says the unit has helped target people involved in serious criminality, recover weapons and reduce discharges.
Police also say half of the discharges they deal with involve shotguns that were legally owned before being stolen in burglaries.
Former gang member Simeon Moore, now a youth mentor and music project organiser in Birmingham, says the change is not only about policing. He points to more people who have lived through gang life speaking openly about its consequences, alongside organisations supporting young people and offering alternatives.
Gun crime remains a serious issue, with the West Midlands force area recording the second-highest total of discharges in England and Wales after the Metropolitan Police. But the long-term fall suggests that targeted policing and local prevention work are making a measurable difference.
Why it matters for Britain
Fewer firearms discharges mean safer streets for communities across the West Midlands. The figures also highlight the practical value of combining specialist policing with youth mentoring and local projects.
