HUNDREDS of gun crimes took place across the county during the first year of the pandemic, figures have revealed.

Although figures dropped, there were still 369 crimes involving firearms in West Yorkshire from 2020 to 2021, and 212 of those instances resulted in the weapons being discharged or fired.

The National Police Chiefs' Council said there is more work to be done nationally to stop those intent on carrying weapons and prevent the "terrible consequences" of gun crime.

West Yorkshire Police Detective Inspector Mick Cox said: “The use of illegal firearms is a threat to the safety of our communities, and our Programme Precision team works closely with partners to tackle those involved with their use.

"While the pandemic did see a drop in the number of offences, our Precision officers across West Yorkshire remained committed to tackling serious and organised crime and making our communities safer."

There were 16 firearm offences for every 100,000 people in the West Yorkshire policing area in 2020-21 – down from 17 the year before.

A Government spokesman said it was recruiting 20,000 extra police officers and had given forces greater powers to stop and search, in an effort to tackle the issue and remove dangerous weapons from the streets.

He said the country had some of the toughest gun controls in the world and that firearms offences made up a small proportion of recorded crime, adding: "We know that everyone in Britain deserves safe streets, homes and communities."