POLICE have pledged to review their procedures after the mother of shot teenager Jessie James was made to wait nine hours for a visit by a family liaison officer after her son was shot dead.
Jessie, 15, was blasted three times by a semi-automatic weapon at 2.40am on Saturday in a community park in Raby Street, Moss Side, a few hundred yards from his home.
A friend of Jessie's broke the news to his mum Barbara Reid, 46, who went to the scene.
She said she was told by an officer someone would call and see her in a couple of hours but a liaison officer eventually arrived nine hours after her son was shot dead.
He said: "There was a very rapid response to the shooting incident but I do recognise the point that Mrs Reid is saying that we didn't meet her needs at this terrible time.
"As a result we are going to carry out a review and we want to do that because we want to sit down with Mrs Reid and explain what's taking place and what lessons have been learned and what we need to do about that.
"We have had positive contact with the family and they are a critical part of this enquiry and we are working alongside them to bring these people to justice."
Chief Supt Thompson said the community could play a key role in bringing Jessie's killer to justice.He said: "People have to realise that we need the help of the community to bring these people to justice and we have had great success in the past in taking gang members off the streets.
"We do feel the individual who carried out the shooting has access to firearms so there must be an element with gangs but we've been very clear that this young man was not a member of a gang.
"We do still have problems with gangs and firearms in Manchester but it's a problem which also happens in other UK cities.
"We need good people to stand up and help us to stop this happening."
Since July alone one person has been killed, one injured and there has been three other reported gun incidents all in the same area where Jessie James was gunned down.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on: 0161 856 4343 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Tweet
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we need to make a stand to so no to GUNS, but we still sit in the shadows. Its about time to make a difference. lets come together and make this a reality. R.I.P. Jessie james a young person who could be the light to stop a dark cloud spreading. thinking of your family at this sad and painful time. love CF
The police should ashamed of themselves;this is unacceptable
The police are not a social service, they are there to keep law and order - their priority in a murder like this is to catch the culprit as quickly as possible, not arrange counselling. I'd like to know just what good the liaison officer was when he did arrive and why it mattered that it took nine hours for him to arrive. The police should not be issuing apologies about this. We should be grateful that there are police who are prepeared to work in Moss Side at all.
The police sud b ashamed! c And alll them bad ppl out dre n they get jessie!:( omg! Jessie Your Gna B Very Sadely Missed Babe I Will Neva 4 get Yu your Alwayz In my heart..(F)..R.i.p Jessie(F)(L)... x Guns need to go! x-x-x-x-x-xlove yohx-x-x
when is this madness going to stop this has been going on for 30 years the do gooders say its ok im on this board or that board why not have a time limit on people under 16 being out after 10 pm i know for a fact that most people who live in that area are frightend to go out i wonder if the do gooders who live outside of this area would live there for six mounths i would put mony on it they wouldnt
I think it is discusting to know that boys are walking around with guns on the streets of moss side that young kids play on.
I have known jessie and his mum ,elder brother and elder sister for ages is grew up with both the boys. jessie is a polite young man growing up to do his ambition that he wanted to do and now he cant. because his life has been taken. i think the shootings round here are bad people have to look over thier shoulder when they go out. i am greiving and send my deepest thought to jessies mum and sister. am sick of the shootings thats 2 friends i have lost that have been shot first carlton and now jessie police need to crack down on this and out a stop for it once and for all.. R.I.P Jessie u will be missed xxxxx
Over 2006 it appears that firearms are a fast growing trend and the victims of this trend are getting younger and younger.
How many more innocent lives have to be cut short before members of the community and those who have knowledge about the supply and use of firearms have the guts to give that information to the authorities.
The police really do need help in cracking down on gun crime from the public before the popularity and use of firearms increases and eventually becomes a way of life, Not just for those members of gangs but for those who need to feel safe on the streets.
My best wishes go out to the family of Jessie and the families of all those who have suffered loss in the same way.
The community in Moss Side know who the individuals are that are and continue to be involved in the gangs. Many of those locked up some time ago are back out on the streets and are back to their old ways. There has been a significant rise in crime in and around Moss Side. The police, however, are unable to get the evidence they need because of a lack of cooperation from the community. That's the same community that now complains about the police's failings. They need to take some responsibility instead of blaming the authorities. I really don't think the presence or not of a family liaison officer really justifies this kind of criticism.
Simon I agree with you, the police should be out looking for these killers, What was this policeman going to do but sit and drink tea, or is it just that the do gooders just want someone to vent their anger on, if these people want to serve the community then start by naming all the local thugs. When the police do clamp down as is being asked by many people the "project workers" & social workers shout about "harassment and racism", so if all the local people who took the time to write in over the past two days want to help then start to grass the villains up.
that is not right a mother who has lost her son and is hurtin and takes u nine hours to get to her wot if was one of u who lost ur child bet the police will come to u if it happen to is it cause she is black
Gerry, I agree. The community knows who they are so tell the authorities. Saying this, I feel is a failing of the judicial services not the Police. The Police are there to catch the criminal, the courts are there to pass the sentence and punishment. If it is lenient and not a deterrent then why should the community risk the same fate. These villains will be back on the streets in no time. Thats not the fault of the Police, its the fault of the Law Lords. get on their case and dont be blinkered. I am sure every bobby in the UK would only be too happy to lock these individuals up. Review the law for gun crime and gangster style shootings, make the penalties harsh, let the Police do their jobs and let the communities support and work with the Police. Otherwise there will never be a change. Also, Parental issues come into it.
XXXX RxIxP XXXX JESSIE AKA GASMAN AKS JESBO WE WILL MISS U LOAD$ LOVE U WE WILL ALWAY$ BE THINKING ABOUT U WILL BE IN R HEARTS 4EVER JESSIE BABY PLZ LOOK GOD PLZ LOOK AFTER HIM. HE WAS A GREAT FRIEND TO EVERY ONE LIKED HIM
Sasha, I take great exception with you saying the Police didnt act because she is black. Guess what, I am a policeman, I am also BLACK and come from South Manchester. I know a few of my mates who went wayward when I was younger and guess what, they too were black! The communities who have to live in these areas are all effected by violent gun crime and low lives, not just the black, Asian or whatever community. I hang my head in shame sometimes, not at the police but at how the community let this happen and how the parents let their kids run riot. Unfortunately where I came from the majority of the criminal element are black. Dont turn this into a race issue, its a crime issue and someone lost their life, grieving mother is having to come to terms with the fact and the community know who did it! Criticise the people who know and dont come forward, not the police!
P.S. I DIDNT KNOW JESSIE BUT I HOPE HIS SOUL RESTS IN PEACE - YOU WERE TOO YOUNG - LET GOD TAKE HIS CHILD INTO HEAVEN AND INTO HIS LOVING HANDS
I feel that alot of people are putting the blame on others
we as a community need to come togeather and try to put a stop to the guns and gangs in moss-side
maybe we should stop youths out after a certain time and not just pat them on the back but give them a warning of some sort and if we inform the parents and give them a warning just like if a child stays of school the parent can be taken to court . I knew carlton jessie and a few others who has been killed
I knew ernest and his family who were held at gun point in the bedrom while they shot him in the other bedroom
it is something im sure his girlfriend and children will remember for a long time
all i can say is we all need to be strong and do something before the next bullet leaves the gun R, I, P to you all god is watching over you all now sleep on babe x
LET ALL THE GANGS GO ON ALEX PARK AND HAVE A SHOOT OUT TO STOP INNACENT PEOPLE AND FAMILYS BEING HURT
THEN THE LAST ONE STANDING PUT HIM IN PRISON FOR LIFE
why when things dont go the right way people cry out its because of there colour pure bull
i agree with the police man
they can only do what they can to solve crimes and they need the help of us the community to help them
i know i couldnt sleep at night knowing someone was in my house and had killed someone
i would feel its my duty to inform the police other wise we would all be harbouring killers drug dealers
word hits the streets soon and names must be mentioned or someone bragging about it and its your duty to help catch them instead of sitting moaning about it a liaison officer is called to tell you what the police will be doing to try and solve the crime plus if you are scared or threatened to help get you to be moved
also to build up a picture of what jessies days were like and who his friends were
to the police he is just another number of a crime they need to build up a profile on his life
my thoughts go out to jessies mum and family , also everyone else that has lost a loved one to the bullet of the gun
No one has yet addressed the issue of the type of music that young black men mostly listen to. This Gangsta rap rubbish, and the advertising that these record companies use, and play, on programmes like MTV has a very major 'causal effect' on what is happening to inner city youth. Gangsta rap should be banned from public airings.
The police are not to blame, get that in your heads. These men and women go to work to catch criminals. Ask any cop who works in Manchester what the answer is, when investigating ANY crime, they knock on doors and ask for witnesses? Not willing to give evidence or a statement, thats what it is. It is OK to shoot an innocent man, mug an hold lady or deal deadly drugs, but you inform on them and you are lowest of the low and your family are at risk. This is the problem, we are scared of facing the problems. WE WILL NOT GET ANYWHERE IF WE DO NOT FACE THIS SCUM AND REALISE WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG. We are all willing to criticise but if a cop knocked on your own door and asked for a statement if you had seen the local "Hood" shoot someone, would you be brave enough to give one or would the easier option be to say nothing, shut the door and write on the MEN website that nothing is being done by the police, THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT!
YES but 9hours to come to the rescue COME ON! That is pathetic work by the police;might as well not have a police force if this is the accepted norm and is reasonable.
It did not take 9 hours to get a police response. The police became involved as soon as the body was found. It was a Family Liaison Officer who took 9 hours to get there. Why the critisism ? The murder had already occurred. There was nothing the Family Liason Officer could do but comfort the family and I'm sure there were already freinds and relatives around doing that job. I am disgusted with that critisism.
The local community is to blame and no amount of 'media friendly' candlelit park vigils will change anything until they have the guts to turn these murderes in.