Police will step up their patrols over Hallowe’en weekend in the wake of a recent fatal shooting and a failed armed robbery.

Detectives confirmed that no arrests had yet been made in connection with either of the two incidents at a press conference yesterday.

But Superintendent Darrin Simons said officers were continuing to trawl through CCTV from outside Southampton Rangers as well as the HSBC bank in Somerset.

“Our outreach to the community for information about the shooting was particularly positive and yielded results,” he added.

“Together with CCTV footage there are numerous lines of inquiry that are actively being pursued.

“We have not made any arrests as yet but there are several people that we are looking to speak with in connection with this tragic murder.

“We are relieved that no one was injured in the attempted robbery and that no money was stolen. Eyewitnesses have provided useful descriptions and again CCTV is being reviewed.”

Superintendent Simons said that police expect a busy weekend as Hallowe’en falls on a Saturday night. “The public can expect to see us out in significant numbers,” he added. “We will be conducting stop and searches. We will also exercise our powers to require persons to remove items that obscure their identity.

“Please be aware that failure to comply with a police officer’s instructions to remove items that obscure identity, or to obstruct a stop and search, are arrestable offences.

“I would like to encourage anyone who usually celebrates Hallowe’en to do so freely again this year.

“The best thing our community can do is to stick together, go about our normal business and have a safe and enjoyable weekend.”

Anyone with any information about the shooting outside Southampton Rangers or yesterday’s attempted armed robbery should call police on 295 0011 or Crimestoppers on 800 8477