WRITER SEEKS TO HALT GUN CRIMES
PRODUCERS of Little Boy Blue hope it will help end Liverpool’s gun wars.
The TV drama shows the full horror of the Rhys Jones shooting in 2007.
In recent months Liverpool has been dubbed “Triggerpool” as gang murders and shootings are rife. Jeff Pope, who wrote Little Boy Blue, told the Daily Star Sunday: “We want to cut out gun crime. We don’t ED GLEAVE want young people getting involved in it.
“We’re re-telling the story in detail. If it dissuades one person from carrying a weapon or getting involved in gang culture then it’s served its purpose.” Recent figures show there were three gun-related murders and more than 50 shootings in a 12-month period in Liverpool. The battles are said to be over the trade in drugs. Last year Merseyside Police carried out an amnesty on firearms in a bid to get guns off the streets.
There were also raids in areas including Croxteth, where Rhys was shot.
Jeff added: “There is a spurious glamour attached to guns and that kind of culture. I hope this series cuts through that like a knife.” Everton fan Rhys was shot in broad daylight as he walked across a pub car park.
His murder shocked the nation – and left Liverpool in turmoil. Jeff said: “This killing was a moment in time – a line in the sand. People just thought, ‘this can’t have happened’.”
Little Boy Blue continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV.