Large kitchen knife and fireworks seized and buses damaged during Mischief Night
Eight arrests were made
Buses were damaged and Merseyside Police seized a large kitchen knife and fireworks from two teenagers during so-called Mischief Night.
There was a 16% increase in calls to emergency services last night compared to the previous year, with eight arrests made in total.
A 13-year-old boy from Fazakerley was arrested in Knowsley after being stop-searched and found with a large kitchen knife.
A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of Section 39 assault and criminal damage in Maghull - he's been released under investigation.
A boy of the same age was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage after a reported incident on West Derby Road - he's also been released under investigation.
Another 14-year-old boy was found with fireworks after reports that fireworks were being set off into a road in Belle Vale.
In two separate incidents - a 25-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B drugs in Tuebrook and a 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug on Queens Drive.
James Dean Anthony Hennessy, 40, of Northumberland Terrace in Everton, has been charged with drink/drug driving on Queens Drive, Walton.
More than 150 stop searches were carried out and dispersal zones were put in place across the region - including Southport, Formby, Crosby, Bootle and Maghull.
Those zones are still in place this evening for Halloween.
The force says a number of buses were damaged by youths causing anti-social behaviour and criminality in West Derby, Maghull and Huyton - and that officers are working with bus companies and looking at CCTV to find those responsible.
Chief Inspector Duncan Swan said:
"We have a highly visible policing presence across the region in the lead up to Bonfire Night on Sunday, 5 November, and my message to those intent on committing criminality, particularly criminality that could result in people being injured, is that we will be robust in our response. Just last night we carried out more than 150 stop searches following incidents of criminality and ASB, as a result we recovered weapons, illegal drugs and fireworks.
"This type of behaviour will not be tolerated"
"Sadly we can say that last night we saw a 16 per cent increase in calls to emergency services compared to last year, and some of those incidents include items being thrown at buses. This type of behaviour will not be tolerated, the drivers and passengers on those buses, could be at risk of harm and it will have been really unsettling for them. As a result of those incidents some bus services have been withdrawn from service and this is having a huge impact on the wider community, particularly those who rely on public transport, and is not acceptable.
"We are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the areas to identify those responsible so that action can be taken.
"I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents, and guardians, to know where your child is and what they are up to – just imagine if it was your loved one who was on the receiving end of the activity last night. Also do you want to face possibility that your child could be arrested and end up with a criminal record, which could prevent them from achieving their ambitions in the future.
"Please be assured that our officers will continue to provide a high visibility presence in the lead up to Bonfire Night. They will continue to conduct stop searches and large groups of people will be dispersed so that they behave responsibly and our communities are kept safe."
“Please be assured that our officers will continue to provide a high visibility presence in the lead up to Bonfire Night. They will continue to conduct stop searches and large groups of people will be dispersed so that they behave responsibly and our communities are kept safe."