Rhys family back anti-gun crusade

Rhys would have turned 12 on Thursday

The family of murdered Rhys Jones are backing a campaign to fight gun crime across Merseyside.

About 150,000 purple ribbons have been made for campaigners to wear to show a united front against firearms crime.

It comes five weeks after 11-year-old Rhys was gunned down in Croxteth on his way home from football practice.

It demands at least a 1,000 more police officers, a minimum 10-year jail term for carrying a gun and also better witness protection.

We would urge everyone to wear their purple ribbons and show they back the campaign Rhys' father Stephen Jones

Rhys' father, Stephen, aged 44, said: "We all have to do what we can, no matter how big or small, to make Liverpool a safer place for everyone, not just the kids, and it has to be bigger than just Liverpool.

"We would urge everyone to wear their purple ribbons and show they back the campaign."

The purple colour for the ribbon represents a merger of the blue of the schoolboy's favourite team, Everton, and the red of Liverpool who have shown support for the family since the killing.

Police believe Rhys, who was shot in the neck was an innocent victim caught in the crossfire between feuding gangs.

On Wednesday four Liverpool gang members were jailed for life for the murder of Liam Smith another gang member who was shot outside Altcourse Prison.

Merseyside Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe said the campaign's demands were achievable if the Merseyside public united behind its aims to influence national politics.