Killers will be tracked down, Brown pledges

Gordon Brown has pledged that the killers of 11-year-old Rhys Jones would be caught, after chairing a Downing Street summit yesterday on measures to tackle gun crime and gangs.

He said the killing was a "heinous crime" that had "shocked the whole of the country". He said: "The people responsible will be tracked down, arrested and punished."

The Liverpool boy was the eighth young victim of gun crime in the UK this year, which has alarmed ministers and the police chiefs at the summit.

Ten areas for action by communities, councils and police against guns and gangs are being identified, including Manchester. The Home Secretary said she would also consider extra powers to compel witnesses to give evidence of gun grime.

Mr Brown promised tougher laws if necessary, but there was weary scepticism from Opposition leaders about the need for more initiatives after those taken by Tony Blair.