In the wake of escalating gun crime in London, a new initiative will be launched by hundreds of local church leaders today at Westminster Chapel in central London to fight against the crisis. The campaign has received the full support from the General Director of the Evangelical Alliance UK (EAUK) Rev Joel Edwards.

Rev Joel Edwards, commented, "The past three months has witnessed a huge rise in shootings in London involving feuds between Yardie-style gangs. This news prompted me to draw together church leaders and the police to see what we could do to stem the tide."

"As Christians, we not only have a major presence in our communities, but we can offer something radical in response to crime. We can also pray. History shows that nations and cities can be transformed when people pray."

Today's event will be hosted from 6:45-8:30pm by Hope for London, a church leader’s prayer network responding to prominent issues in the capital. Over 250 pastors and church leaders are expected to attend.

Rev Edwards has brought together senior officers from the Met’s specialist units fighting gun crime and London’s church leaders to work out new ways to tackle the worrying rise in violent attacks.

Last month, 49 gun shootings on the streets were recorded, including three murders, compared to 12 last year. Operation Trident and Operation Trafalgar are at the forefront of the police’s anti-gun response and the police have recently stepped up the number of armed patrols in London, according to the press release from EAUK.

This evening will begin with the overview of the current situation with regard to gun-related crime in London, presented by an officer from Operation Trident. A representative of the Street Pastors, an inter-denominational Church network with teams of Christian volunteers who patrol the streets and build relationships with young people in deprived areas, will speak as well.