Rhys Jones floral tribute from his family
THE MP who represents the family of murdered youngster Rhys Jones last night blamed Tony Blair for creating the social conditions which led to the 11-year-old’s tragic death.
The attack from West Derby’s Bob Wareing came as Tory leader David Cameron warned Britain would stop being shocked by even the murder of such youngsters unless its gun culture was tackled urgently.
A 16-year-old boy was last night arrested on suspicion of Rhys’s murder as a national newspaper put up a £100,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of his killer. The suspect was arrested on Broadway, Norris Green, and taken in for questioning.
Yesterday, police, who were last night using special stop and search powers in the Croxteth area, renewed their appeal for witnesses to his shooting after admitting the public response had so far been disappointing.
Rhys was shot in the neck at 7.30pm on Wednesday night by a teenage gunman on a BMX bike. He died later in Alder Hey hospital. A motive has yet to be established but Rhys is considered to be “a completely innocent victim”.
Last night, West Derby Labour MP blamed his own government for the current social climate, which he said left “the country’s moral fibre at an all time low”.
Mr Wareing said: “Nothing was done to tackle gun crime during the Blair years – the country’s been left to the dogs.
“The gauntlet has now been laid down for Gordon Brown. Something has got to be done before we reach the point of no return.
“The time has come to take a stand against the thugs taking control of our neighbourhoods.
“Violent and gang-related crime has escalated in the UK and it highlights a deeper problem, the gun-obsessed youth culture of our society.”
Police say they do not believe Rhys was in any way involved in Croxteth’s gang scene and said the shooting was unrelated to the ending of the court case over the murder of Norris Green gang leader Liam Smith yesterday.
Two other teenage boys aged 14 and 18 who were arrested on Thursday were released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Police with sniffer dogs conducted a fingertip search of wasteland behind the Fir Tree pub on Oak Road in Croxteth Park yesterday.
At lunchtime, Rhys’s parents Melanie and Stephen Jones tearfully read the dozens of messages left near to where he fell.
Friends and strangers had left the Everton an flowers, toys, and team scarves and tops near to a bus stop on Oak Road by the pub.
The cards on some of the floral tributes were unsigned, saying simply, “Why?”.
One, signed “Hayley”, read: “Rhys what can I say?
“I can’t believe it. It seems like yesterday we were all back in Menorca having a good time.”
Another friend wrote: “When the Goodison crowd roars it will be for you. Any goals that I score, they will be for you.”
A bouquet and card had been left from the staff and babies at Zoe’s Place hospice, and Graham Rooney, brother of footballer Wayne Rooney, who grew up in Croxteth, brought flowers yesterday afternoon.
Speaking at the crime scene, Patricia Gallan, Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, said: “The answer as to who is responsible is in the community.
“If you are responsible for this crime, come and tell us and hand yourself in.”
Police attempted to reassure potential witnesses their safety and identity can be protected.
Superintendent Phil Barr, from the criminal justice unit, said: “Through liaison with the courts and the Crown Prosecution Service, total anonymity will be guaranteed to any person coming forward as a witness or with any information relating to this incident.”
Speaking after the latest arrest, a police source said: “Rhys was not involved in any form of gang.
“We have made some arrests but this could be a protracted investigation. Another arrest was made today but further inquiries are ongoing and further arrests possible.”
The source said a bike was found yesterday a significant distance from the scene, apparently abandoned.
“It’s something we are pursuing but it’s not to say that the bike was used by the offender. Another call was received today about another bike found in the location.”
Tory leader David Cameron yesterday warned people could greet even such a tragic killing as Rhys’s with a “shrug”, because they could become commonplace if nothing was done.
And he called instead for the shooting to become a turning point which compelled the public to say: “I have had enough of all this”.
“I don’t know who killed Rhys Jones, but I do know this: no child in this country should be riding around on a BMX bike with a gun, shooting other children.”
The powerful speech will inevitably provoke comparisons with the way Tony Blair seized on an earlier Merseyside tragedy, the killing of Bootle toddler James Bulger, to demand change.
Back in 1993, when he was shadow home secretary, the future prime minister rose to national prominence by calling that murder “a hammer blow against the sleeping conscience of the nation”.
Coining the phrase “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”, Mr Blair signalled that Labour would never again be seen as the party soft on criminals.
Nearly 15 years later, Mr Cameron used his speech to urge people, in the wake of Rhys’s “brutal” murder, to take responsibility to change society.
He called for a new “Social Covenant”, recognising that the “state of the nation” was not just a responsibility for government.
Mr Cameron said: “What has become of our society when we have this spate of children killing children?”
The Tory leader paid tribute to Rhys’s heartbroken parents, Melanie and Stephen, describing their bravery as “awe-inspiring”.
A review of how police work to keep deadly guns off the streets was announced yesterday.
Chief Constable Ken Jones, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said offic- ers will look at ways to improve gun control. Home Secretary Jac- qui Smith called for the review at a meeting with senior officers after the death of Rhys Jones.
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