Rhys Jones murder: Croxteth Park to get mobile police station

Sep 24 2007

A MOBILE police station is to be set up in the area near to where 11-year-old Rhys Jones was gunned down in Croxteth Park last month.

Officers announced the latest measure at a packed public meeting held on Saturday to help tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.

The event was organised by the Croxteth Park Residents’Association to discuss concerns over policing, and the creation of a new community centre in memory of the youngster who was murdered on August 22.

Police investigating Rhys’s murder told local residents at the meeting they could not give details of the investigation and urged them “to trust us on this one”.

Croxteth councillor Phil Moffatt said hundreds of people had attended the meeting, which lasted over 2 hours, and there had been a wide range of emotions.

He said: “To get that many people is phenomenalSome people were still numb at what happened, some were argumentative about the policing but most were supportive of the police measures.”

“The turnout was very encouraging and was the best I’ve ever seen for a residents’ meeting here – I think that is an expression of the concern that residents have in relation to the events that have unfolded here recently.”

Police officers held question and answer session at the meeting at Emmaus Primary School, near where Rhys was murdered.

They urged the community to come forward with any information about Rhys’s death, and anti-social behaviour in general.

Officers announced that a mobile police station will be set-up on in an attempt to curb criminal behaviour.

The meeting also involved discussion of closing off certain roads to limit accessibility and reduce crime.

When asked about the progress of the search for Rhys’s killer, Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: “In terms of the investig- ation into Rhys’s killing, it is not appropriate for any one of us standing here today at a public forum to start talking in detail about that investigation.”

“If someone is charged, and we’re confident that they will be in the future, there is going to be a process and a trial, and we can’t afford to corrupt that trial.

“We have to have confidence that in a case like this, it’s our job to slowly and patiently build evidence so that when we do charge somebody, there’s enough evidence to put them before a court and enable them to have a fair trial.”

He added: “We’ve got some of our top experts and specialists working on this particular case and it’s something that I know the Chief Constable takes a weekly and sometimes daily interest in to see how far the investigation has gone.

“But it is complex and we’ve got to get it right, so as soon as there is a breakthrough you will know about it, but you have to trust us on this one.”

Also at the meeting was Bob Wareing, MP for West Derby, who gave his support for a new community centre in Rhys’s name.

He said: “I think there should be a permanent memorial and it should be something that our children and our future children will be able to use for years.

“Hopefully it will lead to a much calmer and easier time for our children and grandchildren.

“There should always be a memorial for Rhys Jones so that people can remember the trials that this generation went through.”

Merseyside Police have so far made a number of arrests since the shooting, but no-one has been charged.