SINCE 2003 seven police officers have been shot or stabbed to death while on duty across the country.

On New Year's Eve Lancashire Police's dog handler Katie Johnson was blasted with 12 pellets in the thigh after a violent pub raid in Bamber Bridge.

Is there's a cure for gun crime? Crime reporter Charlotte Bradshaw investigates DRUGS, racism, "gangsta" rap and an absence of positive role models have all been blamed for a growing catalogue of gun crime.

During the past year the deliberate use of guns to kill has risen in England and Wales.

According to the Home Office, there were 58 firearms-related homicides in 2006-07 compared with 49 in the previous year - an increase of 18 per cent.

But the overall level of gun crime is falling. Firearms offences in total fell 13 per cent in 2006-07 to 9,608 incidents nationally.

However behind the stark statistics lie stories of human tragedy.

PC David Lomas was seriously injured when attempting to make a routine arrest at an address in Hardman Avenue, Rawtenstall, in July 2005.

As the officer stepped into the house, he was confronted by Steven Hensby, 54, who fired a sawn off shotgun directly at the officer, with more than 60 pellets penetrating his skin.

He shot hit PC Lomas on the right side of his head and face, causing him to fall back as another shot was fired at the floor near to his feet.

PC Sharon Beshenivsky was murdered in Bradford last year during an armed robbery by Burnley-born Muzzaker Imitiaz Shah, 26. Her colleague was also shot in the shoulder.

The cops who patrol our streets here in East Lancashire feel the job is more dangerous than it was 10 years ago.

Lancashire Police's Assistant chief constable Jerry Graham said he found it "hard to comprehend" when police officers were shot.

He said: "I have seen colleagues shot before and it's something you never get used to. It makes you wonder what levels these people are prepared to stoop to."

Experts are divided on the best course of action.

Some campaigners, such as Gill Marshall-Andrews of the Gun Control Network, have called for even tougher legislation.

She said: "You're never going to entirely eradicate crime, but making guns harder to come by will help a great deal."

Others, like Lyn Costello, from Mothers Against Murder and Aggression, argue that judges are failing to impose the mandatory five-year jail terms for those convicted of gun crimes.

"I don't understand why they won't use these deterrents at their disposal," she says.

But Steve Edwards, chair of Lancashire Police Federation, says the extended use of Taser stun guns to all front line officers would go a long way to helping the police and public alike.

Currently, the electrical impulse device can only be used by authorised firearms officers in Lancashire. On Wednesday night a 20-year-old woman brandishing two knives in Padiham was stunned with a taser following a three hour stand-off with police.

There is no evidence that the use of Taser has caused any long-term injury and police say there are no outstanding police complaints about its use.

Mr Edwards said: "Gun crime in Lancashire is rare. But when it does occur it is a tragedy.

"On the back of the level of violence being shown towards police officers, especially in light of what happened to the police officer in Bamber Bridge, we are asking of an extension of the use of Tasers to front line cops.

"Frontline officers faced with individuals on our streets offering violence with guns, knives and other weapons would not ordinarily have the benefit of firearms officer's assistance.

"They are left to use conventional open hand fighting techniques, a police baton and incapacitant sprays, all of which offer more risk to the officer.

"If a police officer has got a Taser it makes the offender more compliant. They are less risk to cops and less risk to the offender.

"Injuries and assaults on duty officers are on the up. There are more firearms on the streets and we have a piece of equipment that offers the best option to reduce injury to all members."

The government says it is committed to tackling gun culture head on, including working to block imports of firearms, stepping up surveillance of gangs and using civil orders against gang members.