Until we as a nation stand up to the "do gooders" and criminals alike and give a 10 years sentence for carrying a firearm and life meaning life if a firearm is used in a crime,If we don't stand up to the vermin may as well give up our country to the criminals.A former policeman in a TV interview stated that if the perpertrator had been stopped on his way to the crime he would have had the weapon taken from him and probably released without charge,How absolutely ridiculous !!!
I don't agree that national service is the answer,as a former soldier I would'nt like to rely on people like these criminals in a contact situation.

phil hudson, birmingham, england

It dosnt really matter if they catch the killer or not, he'll be out in 8 years. the EU have launched an enquiry into whether or not life inprisonment is a violation of human rights.

great.

paul, salisbury,

Values and beliefs have changed over the last 30 years. Children are no longer the children whom we know of as then. The law should change according to reflect these changes in the world we live. If a 'child' is caught using a gun or a knife in a crime, then there should be no difference in the punishment meted out. The law is weighted too much in the 'child's ' favour.

Joong, Dunstable, United Kingdom

If I was a parent in any area where it is known that these gangs exist, I would move heaven and earth starting with the local Member of Parliament, to the highest ranking police chief, the mayor and all other leaders of communities to threaten vigilante actions unless the law is enacted to the highest degree regardless of human rights of the gangsters. Having lived in a country which has now descended to the pits as far as violent crime is concerned, it is crazy that people in Europe have to contend with "savages" that shoot and stab to kill in the streets and homes.

We live in Spain and see regular police patrols. Two policemen will rush here in five minutes if you phone with a problem, and it is safe to walk the streets even at 2 am in the morning.

What has happened to Britain that used to be Great? The PC and the liberal wimps, that's what and the rest of the citizens should be ashamed to have allowed it without a big and sustained protest. It is never too late!

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

This killing is tragic, and utterly senseless. However, it highlights the fact that in some places, joining gangs is the only way to give people a sense of identity, purpose and status. What other examples do they have? Seemingly unattainable ones, such as ones thrown at them by the media, and their immediate ones, shown them by their peers.
Yes, the reactionary backlash will come, from those who are far too removed from everyday realities to care.
No wonder then, that those confined to their ivory towers are already baying for blood - National Service and capital punishment will never, ever stop senseless crimes like this one. Look at the U.S., Israel, etc.
Better examples to show people are those who started out with nothing, or have come through extreme hardship, and made a happy life for themselves/others.
And actually, some kids do have respect and are decent, e.g. Rhys Jones. A happy child surrounded by loving family and friends. It's the very least every human being deserves

Kat, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Gangsters are very rational criminals, looking to make money by dealing in drugs or extortion, and they only commit crimes when the benefits outweigh the risk. Hooligans commit lots of petty crimes, as publically as possible, to advertise their immunity from authority. However there is a grey area as hooligans get more organised, and the leaders get subordinates to take the risk of killing rivals. In Liverpool we seem to be crossing it.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

Why do the police not have the power to track the location of the mobile phones of these kids? They will all have a phone on them and there are commercial sites such as mobilelocators.com that already offer mobile phone tracking to the public.

Jason , London, UK

Got to agree, every time we hear "cannot see the persons face because pictures are grainy" . We now have technology in cameras that should have made this a thing of the past.

Kevin , London, UK

i no am only 14 n dat but i fink its so mean wats happened 2 rhys all my love goes out 2 the familly n all his friend i hope they find the killer n i hope he get life !!!!
dont worry rhys ya safe now hun xxxxxxxxxx

lisa, wrexham,

Condolences from the States to the family and the community.
Social housing is one of the problems we contend with over here.
I thought that guns were banned in the UK.
The social liberals are trying to ban those here as well.

Mike, Sacramento, Ca USA

I knew it would be worse for the Joneses after the the police apprehended the murderers than if those killers had never been identified, because now the great British rationalization of Rhys' murder has begun.

It began with the vicar's rites of handwringing, and it will continue as British editors and lawyers blame society for the bloodthirst of these young barbarians, and seek to sweep it all away with leniency and socialist babbling. If it does make the British sicken, I really can't be too indignant myself, simply observing with some detachment (and from afar!) the antics of these hyenas devouring the innocent and themselves.

Tommy, Honaker, VA

If the police have so much information on these 2 gangs why don't they haul the lot in and incarcerate them until they give up the murderous thug - this has to be stopped and there is only one way to do it.
The families should also be removed from Their social subsidised housing immediately.
Hard action is what is needed and better CCTV images.

Chips Westwood, SARLAT LA CANEDA, France

the vicar in the last pragraph hits the nail on the head. the liberals belive that the state shouldn't interfere with the populaces everyday life. However when there happens there is a vaccum for stuctured society and the strongest step in and take over. so while the police sit down and wonder how to arrest criminals without harming their human rights, the thugs, gangsters and terrorists step in and take over.

phollie, Bromley,

To Peter Trodden, your idea is daft, there are youth problems in all countries! Time to rethink the national service idea, it is not a cure for societies ills.

kirsty, London,

Bringing back national service will make no difference what so ever. At the most it will make things worse. Yes society may gain in that younger people may learn respect and discipline however it will give access to misguided youths to greater knowledge on guns and violence. Especially so if the army is unable to support these people after they have gone to war, they are likely to be a greater threat than they were when they didn't have the knowledge of how to kill.
The UK has a great number of troubled persons, arming them with the knowledge of violence and death will make things worse.

Charles Dillon, Kent, UK

The primary cause of this second generation of poor parenting lies in the removal of any deterrent to reinforce what is right from wrong. This is the case at home, at school and on the street. Kids do what they want with no fear of the consequences. The only realistic means to regain lost ground is to re-establish effective deterrents such as the birch

Bill Williams, Liverpool, Merseyside

Let's hope this tragic case strikes a chord with our useless senior police officers and cabinet members, who see everything though a lens of making life difficult for vulnerable, easily bullied citizens, while pandering to the violent yobs. Now they propose to spend countless millions on protecting the killer- Learco Chindamo - for the rest of his life, while claiming that there are no funds available to protect people who need and deserve normal police protection and services. There is no logic in policing in Gordon Brown's Britain- it's all stacked in favour of the bad guys.

Doug, Glasgow,

I say again young people should not be treated as innocent victims when they are involved in gangs and serious crimes. Their anonimity should not be protected by law. They should be named and shamed. This would badly reflect on the parents of the offenders in the areas in which they live and may in some way encourage them to take more responsibility for their offsprings behaviour. After all much of the serious crimes are committed by young people from ten years upwards

Thomas Stallwood, Malaga, Spain

It seems insane to me how the majority of hard working, decent people are held to ransom by the minority in this country. We are so scared of infringing their rights that we have lost sight of our own. Teenagers are not stupid and they know the system and what they can get away with, meanwhile everyday people live in fear and social skills like being friendly and civil to eachother or acting like a responsible citizens are long forgotten. We hardly seem like a happy race of people anymore.
We need to stand up for ourselves. If they want to be a 'nogga dog' or shoot someone because some brainless spoilt idiot tells them to, then we should have the guts to round them up and deprive them of their liberty- because while they are exploiting their freedom decent people cannot enjoy their own! Look at all the people who 'asked not to be named'- why? Because these louts will have revenge! They shouldn't be in a position to even take revenge, we should be acting positivly to keep streets safe.

John O'Neill, Fareham, Hampshire

How pathetic has British society become when an 11 year old boy is "blown away" and the most helpful support the Police can get is "I dunno".

dianne eva huggett, Townsville , Australia

I agree with Mr Trodden; a programme that would encourage not only a sense of discipline and right v wrong, but also a sense of common purpose, can't fail to improve the current dire situation.

Anna, Manchester,

POLICE DONT SEEM TO DO MUCH THEY STOP AND SEARCH YOUNG PEOPLE WHY CANT THEY BE OUT THERE CATCHING THE RIGHT PEOPLE THAT DO THESE CRIMES MY HEART GOES OUT TO LITTLE RHYS FAMILY GOD BLESS THEM SIGNED AN ANGRY PARENT

KAREN, FELTHAM, MIDDLESEX

In this technological day and age, it's absolutely ridiculous to have cctv cameras that produce "grainy images". Either install what works or not at all!

Robbie Rohan, Great Chart, Kent, UK

Just lock the entire lot of them up for life and throw away the key. Its the easiest answer. Zero Tolerance. What a pathetic and left wing liberal ruined world we now live in.

Guilty by Association !

So what happens ? they go back out on the streets, more stray bullets, more innocent deaths.. NO !!! Its time the good people of the world had rights too !!!!

Lock them all up, never let them out.

Dave, Lincoln,

It seems that the knee jerk reaction to the growing gang and drug culture in our midst is to legislate more and to look towards the police/government to become parent and set the rules. Strict parental rule often produces a child like reaction with reduced responsibility being taken by the individual who is hell bent on challenging authority as opposed to taking responsibility for his/her own life. If we legalised all drugs it would remove the power of drug 'barons' and their acolytes. Drugs would be cheaper & crime less likely to be used to fund drug purchases. People will still take drugs but society could pour its resources into education and pinpointing why people feel they need drugs. Drugs dull pain and give relief from real life; why do so many people old and young find life so awful they need this relief? This is the question money should be channelled into answering and the answer may not be palatable ie pointing to inadequate parenting or inadequate education.

Jayne, Newbury, Berkshire

The backlash is coming - the soft-liberal conspiracy only worked when there was a nationwide consensus on tolerable behaviour and just punishment - the injustice system will start to be ignored - large sections will police/protect themselves - there will be tax revolts - there will be mayhem & vigilantism - people are extremely angry

Chris Thomas, Oxford, England

Bring back national service they have it in Israel Italy and Germany ...they dont have problems with their kids..in UK children have no respect anymore for anything!!!

Peter Trodden, Kirkwall, Orkney

What are the police doing stopping innocent youngsters and using stop and search on them? Where's Shami Chakrabarti when you need her? Don't gangsters and killers have human rights?

Signed
Tongue (very) in cheek

John Tomlinson, Brentwood, Essex

Get rid of the stupid law,and the do gooders that allows young teens get away with breaking the law.
There is no such thing as a child after about ten if caught they should be treated to the same punishment as adults. >

Barry Holmes, Christchurch, New Zealand

Its a sad fact you can spend millions on transforming cities but it is still the same people who live there and unless the government tear down some of these housing estates you will always have gang warfare Instead of overseas development and wasting monies on illegal wars we should concentrate on spending these monies on activity centres where young people can go and do things ie boxing, football, computer lessons and much more rather than spending endless hours hanging on street corners Unless this government wake up and learn lessons from this heinous crime I am afraid that the wasted life of young Rhys will be in vain. My prayers go out to his family at this terrible time .

oswald, koh phangan suratthani 84280, Thailand