Escalating gun crime - Ineffective sanctions

ALMOST 20 people have been shot to death in this country this year. Others have been terribly injured.

Others, usually innocent bystanders, have been traumatised and frightened. They are in an unviable position as they have to live with the possibility that they may be called to give evidence in any court case that might follow the gangland killing they were unfortunately caught up in.

The situation has become so serious that a young boy, a witness to a recent double murder, needed 24/7 armed protection while he was in hospital. In other cases witnesses were struck by amnesia.