WHEN something as terrible as the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones happens, it is easy to lose perspective.

It is so utterly shocking, such a desperate waste of a young life, that it is widely perceived as conclusive evidence that society has descended into hopelessness. That is not only sad but it is inaccurate too.

The shooting of Rhys was an appalling act of violence and it is inevitable that it will be used to fuel the debate on how "yob culture" should be tackled and become part of the political battleground.

But we must not forget that the yobs are in the tiny minority. Most people - including the young - are caring, decent citizens who deplore violence.

Like those who came together as a united community at Rhys's funeral yesterday: some in the blue shirts of his beloved Everton, and some in the red of arch rivals Liverpool.

All over the country, there were tears for the loss of a happy-go-lucky little boy who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

There are plenty of bad people in the world. There always have been and there always will be.

But let us not lose sight of the fact that they are heavily outnumbered. Sticking together, and galvanising community spirit, is ultimately the way to win the fight against crime.

Society will always need repair work, some of it urgent. But we must not make the mistake of believing that it is fundamentally broken.