LIBERAL Democrats won their battle to protect the identity of gun crime witnesses, despite a conference rebellion.

The party agreed to give anonymity to witnesses, following the example set by police in Greater Manchester during the inquest into murdered schoolboy Jessie James.

Critics had said it could mean troublemakers would make up claims against people, without their identity being released.

But the leader of Manchester Liberal Democrats, Simon Ashley, said it was important to protect vulnerable and frightened witnesses who might be intimidated by gangs.

He said: "We have used anonymity in anti-social behaviour order cases where neighbours feared reprisals. "We have to be able to protect people to solve these cases."

Liberal Democrats called for a 24-hour border force to halt the import of guns, mainly from Eastern Europe.

Mr Ashley and Withington MP John Leech met the party's home affairs spokesman, Nick Clegg, to discuss gun crime.

Flexibility

They backed the Association of Chief Police Officers' calls on government to allow police chiefs the flexibility to tackle gun crime by tailoring the reaction to the needs of their areas.

Mr Ashley said: "There aren't any quick fixes in the fight against gun crime. The council and police chiefs need the resources and power to tackle gun crime locally."

MP John Leech said the meeting had allowed them to share experiences with councillors from other gun crime hotspots, including Liverpool.

The leader of Liverpool council, Warren Bradley, told the conference that people in his city or in Manchester should be able to come forward anonymously and give evidence against suspects.

He said that they had to feel they would be protected.

In the debate at Brighton, Mr Bradley referred to the tragic shooting of 11-year-old Rhys Jones and other cases - including teenager Jessie James (pictured), who was shot dead in Manchester last year.