Croxteth councillor Phil Moffatt outside the Fir Tree pub _320
Others believe much more needs to be done to provide young people with alternatives to joining gangs.
Cllr Rose Bailey said: "The publicity has had a negative impact. We have had parents not wanting to send their children to Croxteth Comprehensive because of the name, and the school’s closure is another blow to the community.
"We need more facilities for young people and youth workers to nurture any talents they have.
"Sean Mercer was a star footballer at the age of 10. If this had been acted on, things may have been different."
Speaking in Sheffield yesterday, the Home Secretary said: "All of us who were everyone affected by the tragedy of Rhys Jones’s murder was pleased that the murderer, and those who helped him, had been brought to justice, particularly Rhys’s parents, Melanie and Stephen.
"They have been on a very long and painful journey and I hope this gives them some satisfaction that there is justice being made.’’
Ms Smith added: "Last year I set up in Liverpool – and other areas across the country – the Tackling Gangs Action Programme, which has seen since then a reduction in the numbers of gun-related injuries linked to gangs.
"We are not going to let up in this because I don’t want any another parent to suffer like Melanie and Stephen have done.
"I want young people to be able to live their lives free from the fear of gangs and the violence that they perpetrate."
