Arrests made and rifle seized following day of action on the Wirral
Merseyside Police have been out in force in Birkenhead to crack down on criminal gangs
Last updated 8th Feb 2023
Merseyside Police have made a number of arrests and seized an air rifle, following a crackdown on criminal gangs on the Wirral.
The activity took place under Operation Vermont, during which officers from the Targeted, Mounted, Bike and Local Policing teams came together with partners to reassure the public on community issues and proactively target criminals.
The activity follows serious incidents of organised crime in areas including Wallasey, Beechwood and Woodchurch. Included in the ongoing day of action were:
• Drugs warrants in the Egremont and Wallasey areas, during which heroin and an air rifle were seized and enquiries continue.
• Throughout the day uniformed police have been patrolling the Beechwood area and talking to locals about the work being carried out to provide reassurance.
• High visibility policing supported by our Mounted Unit.
• Roadside checks at Queensway Tunnel in Birkenhead, during which a 39-year-old man from Walton Village; a 33-year-old man from Croxteth; and a 23-year-old man from Claughton were stopped and arrested on suspicion of drug driving following road side tests.
• Open land searches are ongoing in the Woodchurch area, with officers acting on intelligence to look to seize weapons and other criminal items.
Superintendent Paul Sutcliffe, who leads the Targeted Policing teams across Merseyside, said:
“Today’s operation is a proactive approach to tackling issues that matter most to residents in Wirral and keep our streets safe. A lot of the activity carried out is around areas where we regularly have reports of criminality and anti-social behaviour. Residents speak to us of their fear in going out late at night due to the harmful actions of a minority. This will never be tolerated and we stand with the vast majority of these communities, who want to live without the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour on their doorsteps.
“Although such a large volume of police in an area can make people fearful, I’d like to emphasise that such action is to target those we suspect of serious and organised crime, as well as causing other issues.
“Action days like this are also a good way for us to obtain intelligence on suspects who will be arrested in the foreseeable future. Keeping our streets safe from anti-social behaviour or criminality wouldn’t be possible without the help of residents, which is vital and really helps us bring offenders to justice.
“We were also able to carry out an important roadside operation which saw arrests on suspicion of drug driving. Keeping our roads safe from reckless drivers is vital, and we will continue to carry out such work whenever and wherever necessary. Do not risk the massive consequences of driving over the limit, both on victims of road traffic collisions, and the lives and livelihoods of those drivers who get caught. It simply isn’t worth the risk.
“Today’s activity supports the work we do every day of the year to tackle offending in our communities. Stop checks warrants, land searches and arrests are happening 365 days a year across Merseyside, often in those areas the public tell us there are issues.
“I would urge people to continue to come forward so we can take action.”