THE Metropolitan Police have launched a hard hitting advertising campaign aimed at cutting gun crime among London's black communities.

Posters for Operation Trident feature a stark image of a dead man in a mortuary fridge and the message: Carrying a gun can get you into the coolest places.

It has been designed to demonstrate the likelihood of becoming a victim if you carry a gun.

The poster has gone up on a hundred billboards in six boroughs where black gun crime is most prevalent.

The message is supported by a radio campaign which highlights the other consequences of carrying a gun, such as being jailed and living with the fear of arrest or retribution.

The drive has been welcomed by the the Mayor of London.

Mr Livingstone said: The message here is very clear: don't carry a gun or you could end up getting killed or going to prison.

"Gun crime is a major issue for many communities in London, particularly amongst the young.

"The best form of prevention is to alert people about the dangers of getting involved in gang culture and gun crime.

"That is why I wholeheartedly support this new campaign which highlights very clearly what the end result of carrying a gun is likely to be."

The Mayor said that in the first five months of this financial year, there had been been a 16.9 per cent reduction in gun crime among black communities.

"This is a testament to the engagement of police with local communities," he said.

"The roll out of safer neighbourhoods teams across London means that there is now a dedicated and visible police presence in every community in every ward in London, engaging with local people and identifying local policing priorities in order to stop anti-social behaviour and petty crimes from escalating into serious crimes."