Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin
The police have said that they have spent £600,000 on tackling 'paramilitary attacks' in Derry.
The PSNI's Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin said: "We have seen a very significant increase in attacks. There have been 29 incidents in the North West this year and five times the number of shootings compared to last year.
"That is quite staggering. It's concerning and worrying.
"It just shows what these people are doing to their communities."
He added: "I've spent £600,000 already on a policing operation specifically to keep the people of this city and in the north west safe and we will continue to do that.
"I will continue to devote every resource that I have to keep people in these communities safe.
"But actually this is a societal problem - it's not just a policing problem.
"It's a cultural problem and a problem that community leaders need to take a grip with, be strong and join with us to actually root this out of communities."