RHYS JONES: Gang members speak out

Aug 27 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

The parents of murdered Rhys Jones at the scene of the fatal shooting

MEMBERS of one of Liverpool’s most notorious gangs last night condemned the shooting of Rhys Jones, and lifted the lid on the city’s gang culture.

Dean, Jamie and Peter are all members of the “Nogga Dogs” Gang, from Norris Green, in north Liverpool.

They are sworn enemies of the Croxteth Crew and, all aged 18, they wear their gang’s “uniform” – dark tracksuit bottoms with Reebok classic trainers and dark hoodie tops.

Dean said: “I’ve been in the Nogga Dogs for more than two years and I will swear on my life that Rhys kid was not offed by a Nogga.”

The three openly confessed that they are always armed with knives and air guns. But, more worryingly, they say they also have access to a “library” of about 20 guns that are hidden around Norris Green and available for use.

Dean said: "At weekends, we go grafting – mostly over the water on the Wirral and Sowey (Southport). That's where we make our money for the week.

"We rob anything. Shops, phones, cash – muggings or robbing from shops. We go for whatever we can get and we'll do just about anything to get it.

"We will go for teenagers who have a lot of readies and threaten them and they hand over money.

“If we have to, we'll use knives. If they fight back, we'll crack their heads open."

Jamie added: “There’s nothing wrong with spilling Croccy blood – that’s good – but when it starts to involve kids it’s bang out of order.

“We don’t get involved in shooting at or killing kids.

“We’ve all had mates from the Nogga Dogs who’ve been shot and killed.

“It happens when things kick off.

“But it’s wrong to go spraying bullets around when there’s kids playing in a pub car park.”