Watford's top policeman has sought to reassure the public after a number of gun-related incidents in the town last month.

The town’s Chief Inspector Paul Sandwell confirmed there had been three separate firearm incidents in June, but stressed that each was isolated.

He said: “There have been a number of incidents in the Watford area recently, which I understand could cause concern.

“These are live investigations and, while I wouldn’t want to comment on the detail at this stage, all the evidence we have suggests that these were isolated incidents.

“At present I have no reason to believe they are part of a wider increase in gun-related crime in Watford.”

Chief Insp Sandwell added that the number of violent crimes in the town has dropped by 4.9 per cent compared the same period last year.

During the first incident at a party in Garston on Sunday, June 12, a man was shot and two others were injured after a fight broke out between two rival gangs.

Sharriff Dacres, 21, of Cotterells, Hemel Hempstead, has been charged with attempted murder.

Alexander Dacres, 26, of Tudor Avenue, Watford, has been charged with possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, two charges of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and possession of Class B drugs.

Both men have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on July 15.

Ten days later, a gunman fired a shot through a house window in Crusader Way at 1am.

Deion Lowe, 22, of no fixed address, was arrested and subsequently charged with possession of a firearm.

Then on June 30, armed police cordoned off Rosslyn Road as they arrested three men in a firearms operation.

The searches saw three handguns seized and four people charged with firearms offences.

The following were charged with possession of firearms with intent to endanger life; Lemuel Browne, 56, and of Gladstone Road, Jamie Claridge, 33, and of Wilmington Close, Darren Townsley, 29, and of Prince Street, Jamie Wakenshaw, 36, and of Kings Road, London Colney.

All were remanded in custody until a further hearing at Harrow Crown Court on August 1.

Police figures show that weapon possession and violent crime has increased in Watford.

Figures comparing April and May 2016 to the same period in 2015 show the number of people caught possessing weapons rose by ten 10 per cent and the number of violent crimes increased by 11.5 per cent.

But Watford’s Chief Inspector Paul Sandwell has now moved to reassure locals.

He added: “Last week we took positive action following the receipt of information about the possible criminal possession of firearms as a result we recovered three firearms and brought numerous suspects into custody, where they currently remain.

“This has been a thorough investigation with a positive outcome, and I would like to stress that at no stage do we believe there was a threat to the general public in Watford. It will now take some time for the case to go through the courts.”

Watford’s elected mayor Dorothy Thornhill previously told the Observer the town is safe.

She said: “People shouldn’t be worried. We live in a safe area, in a safe part of the country. This isn’t America.

“We have to keep things in perspective. We’ve pretty much had an event-free year and then a few terrible things have happened.

“These things are unpleasant and horrible when they happen, but they are rare.

“The important thing is to not exaggerate these things. The incident in High Elms Lane was people from London and these things happen, especially in London.

“I think this is a sign that people from London are moving outwards.”