Gun crime is on the increase in Bromley according to the latest crime figures from the Metropolitan Police.

In the 12 months leading up to March 31, there were 79 gun-enabled crimes in the borough - almost a 10 per cent increase on the year before.

The offences have ranged from handling real or imitation firearms and pepper spray to the illegal use of fireworks.

But police chiefs are pleased with an overall fall in crime of 11.4 per cent above the London-wide average of a 6.5 per cent drop.

Supt Matt Bell said: “Gun crime is, thankfully, very rare in this borough, but we are not complacent about the challenges we face in forcing home the message that carrying an illegal firearm is simply unacceptable. The irresponsible use of replica weapons or air weapons obviously places members of the public and police officers in very dangerous situations.”

Bromley police also had to deal with six murders last year, up 50 per cent from the year before.

But overall the figures were an improvement on the year before with robbery, rape and knife crime falling by 30 per cent, 24 per cent and 22 per cent respectively.

Supt Matt Bell added: “The figures really do speak for themselves and I am really proud of our efforts to reduce crime on the borough. The challenge now is to maintain that performance and to increase the confidence that residents have in our ability.”