Merseyside's outgoing top cop - "Too many youngsters involved in violent crime"
Liverpool's outgoing chief constable's told Radio City many youngsters are getting mixed up in violent crime across Merseyside.
Liverpool's outgoing chief constable's told Radio City many youngsters are getting mixed up in violent crime across Merseyside.
Sir Jon Murphy has been speaking to Pete Price for the final time before his retirement. He said the Force is doing all it can to tackle the problem.
He said: "We've arrested over 50 people over the past couple of weeks for serious organised crime related issues, we've recovered guns and cash but unfortunately the problem persists."
It comes following a spate of incidents on Merseyside, including the fatal shooting of Mark Hillman in Everton, and a shooting near a school in Bootle.
Police are currently investigating 38 incidents which have taken place between January and May this year.
In a single week, starting from Monday the 25th April, the force dealt with 7 shootings. In April and May alone there have been 19 incidents. Sir Jon said he believes young people are getting caught up in gang crime too easily.
He said: "We're seeing the levels of violence that young people are prepared to resort to, for little reason as disturbing and sadly a reflection on modern society."
"These young people don't seem to be able to rationalise what they're doing and why they do it"
"There's this very quick flash to bang mentality, where young people will think nothing of getting hold of a weapon and going to somebody's house and blasting them with it."