1400 arrests in two years in project to crackdown on organised crime
Key offenders have been jailed to a total of 237 years behind bars
More than 1400 arrests have been made in Liverpool and Knowsley since a project started two years ago to tackle serious and organised crime.
Evolve Liverpool-Knowsley was launched in 2022 following the murders of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Sam Rimmer and Ashley Dale, to make the area 'stronger, safer and more resilient.'
More than £522,000 in cash and 190kg of suspected Class A and B drugs have been seized in that time, with offenders jailed for a combined 237 years and all crime down by 10%.
Other seizures include:
- 66 offensive weapons
- Eight firearms
- Suspected stolen bikes and vehicles
Nearly 1,800 stop searches have been carried out, 160 warrants have been executed, 85 people have been safeguarded and 124 safeguarding referrals have been made.
Superintendent Tony Fairhurst, one of the senior officers involved in the project, said:
"Tackling organised crime, preventing criminality and protecting communities are key priorities for Merseyside Police.
"Following the tragic events in August 2022, we put in place robust policing operations to safeguard our communities and bring those responsible to justice. While we were able to put Olivia and Ashley’s murderers behind bars for a very long time, we are still working hard to find those responsible for Sam’s death and urge anyone with information to contact us.
"These families, and all the families who have lost someone to criminality, suffer day in day out and we are committed to helping to make Merseyside a safer place to live, work and visit so other families don’t suffer the same indescribable pain.
"When we launched EVOLVE our overarching aim was to dismantle the gangs, stop serious and organised crime and make our neighbourhoods safer and more resilient for generations to come.
"Our journey is still in its infancy"
"I am delighted that as a partnership we have made some fantastic progress and achieved some significant successes in the area as seen by the reduction in crime and increase in public confidence.
"However, our journey is still in its infancy and we are all committed to ensuring EVOLVE is a success with permanent positive long-term changes for those living and working in these areas.
"To have the greatest success though we need our communities to continue to tell us what they know about the activities of the minority intent on causing harm and I urge those with any information to contact us, or Crimestoppers anonymously so we can keep helping those who are vulnerable and bring offenders to justice – silence is not an option."
Drugs possession and trafficking offences have increased by 10%, which Merseyside Police say is thanks to the work of officers and the 178% increase in reports fom the public.
Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods, and Streetscene, said:
"This partnership was created in response to three tragic events which took place in our city - with the aim of cracking down on crime which blights our communities and ruins lives.
"Just two years on, and EVOLVE’s outcomes speak for themselves – in Liverpool our diverse success stories range from taking illegal vapes and counterfeit cigarettes off the streets, installing CCTV in key areas, right through to community clean-ups and education programmes.
"Working together with Merseyside Police and other partners, means we can share resources and intelligence which ultimately make a real, positive difference to ÂÂÂÂresidents and businesses which may otherwise be impacted by organised crime, and we look forward to seeing what more we can achieve in the future."
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said:
"Serious and organised crime has no place in our communities.
"The EVOLVE campaign has already helped dismantle criminal enterprises in Knowsley and we will continue to work closely with partner agencies to ensure people feel safe and happy where they live, without the fear of organised crime disrupting their lives.
"This ongoing commitment to our residents will not stop. We must continue to work together to tackle organised crime and leave criminals with nowhere left to turn."
Emily Spurrell, Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner, said:
"These figures speak for themselves. Clearly, since the launch of EVOLVE much has changed for these communities.
"Using fear and intimidation, these organised crime groups brought misery to the neighbourhoods in which they operated, cowardly hiding in these communities, often manipulating vulnerable people to do their bidding for them.
"This needs to serve as a warning"
"These communities can now be assured that many of these criminals are behind bars for a very long time, and this needs to serve as a warning for any other individual considering getting involved in illegal activity.
"I want to thank Merseyside Police for their relentless pursuit of these illegal gangs and their robust action in clearing them from these communities.
"I also want to thank our partner organisations, who by working closely and cohesively with local policing teams, increased our ability to hold these communities, making it harder for these criminals to return.
"Lastly, I want to thank the good people who live in these areas. Their resilience, passion and dedication is helping to increase a feeling of safety and belonging, building their neighbourhoods back into places where people love to live, work and play."