UPDATE: POLICE will push for a further gun clampdown in the wake of a series of shootings including six since Friday.

The move comes as a link was confirmed between two shootings that occurred just this morning, one previously unknown.

Acting Commander Peter De Santo said a specific offence for shooting into a building, successfully used in NSW, and prohibition orders imposing aggravated penalties for convicted criminals caught with a gun or where one is located were among possible options which could be put to government.

The force has also begun looking at ways it can better tackle the problem including more proactive policing, improving the response to gun trafficking and better gathering and sharing of intelligence.

“Victoria Police is very determined to deal with these issues that we’ve currently got,’’ Mr De Santo said.

“We are looking at other jurisdictions to see what has worked and why.

“What we are talking about are the firearms that are illicit, the people who shouldn’t have them to start with and the people who are carrying out these offences.

Drive-by shootings

“We are not talking about the registered gun owner, the sporting shooter, who has a licence who complies, who locks his firearms away and who is a law-abiding citizen.

“We need to have a strong case to go and advocate to government which we intend on doing.”

Police revealed an aggravated burglary on a cannabis crop house in which a firearm was discharged had occurred in St Albans this morning and believed linked to another incident in which a man presented at a Werribee hospital with a gunshot wound.

Nobody was injured in the St Albans shooting but the offender remains at large.

The man who presented at Werribee Mercy Hospital — a 23-year-old from Caroline Springs — is known to police and has been uncooperative.

media_camera Detectives and SES personnel in Kealba where one of three shootings in 14 hours is believed to have occurred. Picture: Hamish Blair

He had earlier driven off after paramedics were called to report of a man with gunshot wounds at Kealba in Melbourne’s northwest about 4am today.

Meanwhile a 25-year-old patched member of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang is facing court after he appeared with a gunshot wound at Sunshine Hospital Mr De Santo stressed the recent spate of shootings typically involved drugs and people known to each other.

One in Bentleigh East on Friday was believed to be drug related while another at Kurunjang that evening a domestic dispute between two parties with charges imminent.

The father of a victim shot at Kings Park yesterday had been charged and remanded in custody.

“All of those shootings have involved offenders who are known to their victims,’’ Mr De Santo said.

“From what we know at this point in time they all relate to retribution or payback.

“I wish to reassure the community these recent firearms incidents are between criminals and their known associates.

media_camera A detective outside a service station in Kealba where is shooting is believed to have occurred. Picture: Hamish Blair

“We do have concerns about the use of firearms in the community by these criminals and about innocent people that may be caught in crossfire.

“The shootings are not at random and are usually drug related and at the current time we believe they are associated around gang activity, middle eastern organised crime figures and their links into the outlaw motorcycle gangs.”

Police have not put a timeline on how long it would take to work through ideas for further gun restrictions and are at the research phase of examining laws elsewhere.

Work on improving the police response had already begun.

Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

wes.hosking@news.com.au

Twitter: @WesHosking