24 August 2007 MP Visits Scene of Letchworth Garden City Shooting After visiting the scene of the shooting in Pixmore Avenue, Letchworth Garden City, Oliver Heald was able to meet local residents and businesses. Oliver was shown the scene by Chief Inspector Geoff Camp and Sergeant Mandy Dickerson, and was able to speak to the shop owner in Basra Stores, the neighbouring garage and the Afro Caribbean and Asian delicatessen. Oliver also met residents in Pixmore Avenue and Boscombe Court and visited the mobile police station. Commenting, Oliver Heald said, “I am grateful to the Police for keeping me in close touch with their investigation and would like to pay tribute to their professionalism. It is very rare for there to be gun crime in North East Hertfordshire and I am glad that the Police were able to reassure local residents. However, there is a national issue concerning the ownership and use of handguns and there is no doubt that we need to stamp out any signs of a developing “gangster culture”. I will be raising this issue in Parliament when it resumes. Not only do we need tough sentences which are really served by gun criminals, but we need to ensure that the Police have all the necessary powers and that all of us in society take responsibility for ensuring that this madness is stamped out.” Oliver is calling for an immediate amnesty so that guns can be handed in at Police Stations, and the setting up of a dedicated and confidential hotline, where individuals can report any suspicion about the illegal possession, handling or location of handguns.  Oliver added, “I hope this will lead to far more of these weapons being located, seized and destroyed. We also need to look at adequate enforcement at our borders, including the consideration of scanners for vehicles.”