It seems to be an incongruous time to be highlighting this kind of gang related gun crime in the inner city areas of south Manchester when such crime is at an all time low. This positive situation appears to owe much to the work of initiatives like the Integrated Gang Management Unit, which recognises perpetrators of such crimes as people who are also victims of such behaviour and seeks to work with communities so as to prevent individuals who are vulnerable developing in this way, and the work of the Greater Manchester Police Xcalibre task force, which targets gang related gang crime.

The fall in instances of gang related gun crime has been very noticeable and needs to be appreciated by media and public alike. There have been no gang related gun fatalities in Moss Side for six years - a triumph in itself - and any instances of gang related shootings are now a relative rarity. Areas such as Moss Side are beginning to develop and grow in confidence and a virtuous circle is beginning to develop in which confident communities feel more able to challenge such behaviour, if it were to reoccur, and the area is more and more seen as a pleasant area in which to live a reasonable life.

I hope the MEN is not just running this article for cheap sensationalism and is going to finish the 'story'. Misrepresenting the situation by telling only part of the story is dangerous as it serves to damage communities and the lives of individuals within them. It should bear in mind the psychology of readers who look to reinforce their present perceptions, which often seem to involve the scapegoating of such areas, rather than accept how in many ways there is a positive story to be told.