The moment loaded gun is found stashed in children’s bedroom drawers | UK News
This is the shocking moment a loaded gun was found hidden inside a children’s underwear drawer.
It was one of six firearms – including a pump action sawn off shotgun – recovered during a raid on the home of Danny Butler, 44, in Lambeth, south London.
Officers also found class A and B drugs stashed all over the address, which he shared with his wife and three children, including an 18-month-old toddler.
The seizure came amid a wider crackdown on the use of guns in London, with the Metropolitan Police taking more than one off the streets every day last year.
But figures show nearly half of shootings in the capital go unsolved.
The number of cases resulting in someone being prosecuted has hit 52% – the highest rate for 11 years – but that still leaves 48% of offenders yet to face justice.
Man who hid guns in his children’s bedrooms
Danny Butler was an armorer for a street gang in Lambeth.
He was jailed for 18 years after six guns and a haul of class A and B drugs were found during a search of his home.
Three handguns, one of which was loaded, were among the weapons discovered inside his children’s clothes drawer.
Another handgun and a pump action sawn off shotgun was found in their wardrobe, along with a large quantity of ammunition.
Officers found a second sawn off shotgun in a coat cupboard
Class B drugs were lying on the living room floor within reach of his 18-month-old, while class A drugs were stashed inside the TV unit and a coat cupboard.
Detectives believe this is partly due to fear preventing witnesses coming forward or sharing vital evidence, and some victims wanting to get revenge themselves rather than co-operate.
Commander Paul Brogden said: ‘It comes down to trust within our communities, we need the communities to trust us with evidence, trust us with handling Ring doorbell footage, CCTV access.
‘People are worried, people are frightened, victims are frightened and often are reluctant to come forward.
‘We encourage them to trust us, we will keep them safe. While our outcome rates have improved, there are 48% that we haven’t managed to solve.’
He said detectives have ‘long memories’ and will investigate for years, especially if there is a linked series of shootings.
Detective Superintendent Victoria Sullivan, a specialist crime officer based in south-east London, said: ‘Often the victim themselves who’s been shot do not want to divulge to police and that might be because they’re seeking retribution themselves.
‘So potentially today’s victim could be tomorrow’s suspect. And that’s why it’s really important that we act really, really quickly to try and dissolve that situation.’
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