Children speak out on gun crime

Dec 11 2007 by Ben Rossington, Liverpool Daily Post

THOUSANDS of Liverpool children are to be given the chance to tell the government what they think about gun and knife crime

Children’s charity NCH wants to quiz up to 10,000 local youngsters about the problems.

The questionnaire will form part of the biggest-ever consultation on weapons and young people.

And it will be shown to Downing Street so the decision makers can see the strength of feeling.

NCH’s northern England director Paul Moore said: “Liverpool has been through a lot recently and has been in the national spotlight for gun crime.

“These issues affect us all but can play on the minds of children and we want their views.

“With the tragedy of Rhys Jones and the issues around gangs and gang shootings, we want to give youngsters in Liverpool a voice.

“Kids are very, very worried. I was talking to some in Liverpool this week and they were telling me they were afraid.

“They are afraid of being caught up in something bad and the fear creates its own added fear.

“Suddenly, these kids become afraid of going out into open spaces and this leaves them withdrawn and damages their confidence about being part of society.”

NCH, formerly the National Children’s Home, works with around 10,000 people in Merseyside up to the age of 22.

For the last 135 years, they have worked with children and families facing difficulties such as poverty and abuse and have set up numerous projects and programmes in Liverpool.