Merseyside Police hold Community Engagement Day in Kirkby

Today, Merseyside Police lead on a Community Engagement Day in the Tower Hill area of Kirkby.

Joined by teams from Knowsley Council including the Crime and Communities, Environmental Health, Trading Standards & Licencing teams, they are offering reassurance to residents and working together to build better and safer communities.

The day of action comes shortly after Kirkby’s newly established policing team celebrated its first 150 days. Read more about their first 6 months here.

From school visits to high visibility patrols, Kirkby’s policing team are keen to hear about and address the issues affecting local communities. Significantly, officers from Knowsley Council are also joining the day’s activity to help to further develop relationships with residents and businesses.

Inspector Dave Morgan, Kirkby Policing Team said:

“In our first 6 months we have already built fantastic relationships with our communities across Kirkby. Today’s activity in the Tower Hill area continues to build on this positive relationship with residents. From acting against those driving illegally on our roads, to engaging with school pupils, we are demonstrating our commitment to serving our community and tackling the issues that matter to them.”

Councillor Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said:

“Today’s community engagement day is a fantastic way for the Tower Hill community to continue to build positive relationships with Knowsley Council as well as the Kirkby Policing Team. It’s only with our residents that we can collectively tackle the issues that matter most – together we can build better and safer communities.”

Further to today’s engagement day, key agencies from Knowsley’s Community Safety Partnership are also working together for Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week from 19 – 25 July. Further details about this Knowsley wide action will be shared on Knowsley News soon.

Credit: Knowsley Community Safety Partnership

Highlights of today’s engagement day include:

School visit

Officers from Kirkby’s policing team will visit Eastcroft Park Primary School, Tower Hill. Here Year 5 and 6 pupils will hear a presentation about the dangers of grooming and address any worries pupils have about raising these concerns with police. All school children will also be given the opportunity to speak with police officers and see their specialist equipment and vehicle.

Vehicle enforcement: Shevingtons Lane

As part of the police’s ongoing enforcement operations on Shevingtons Lane, officers will conduct a High Visibility Patrol in the area and take action against those found to be driving vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes.

High Visibility Patrols

Officers will target hot spot areas for criminal and anti-social behaviour including sites that have been recently linked to bus vandalism.

Walkabout Wednesday

Knowsley’s Crime and Communities Team are conducting this week’s Walkabout Wednesday on Ebony Way. Here they will speak with residents about any concerns they may have and support the local community to address any incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour.

Credit: Knowsley Community Safety Partnership

Trading Standards

Trading Standards visit shops in the area to build on existing relationships with owners and ensure that consumers are able to shop in the local community safe in the knowledge that the products and services being sold meet the required standards for safety and that their statutory rights are being protected.

Parking Issues

Responding to resident concerns and complaints Police officers will address parking issues outside Ravenscroft Primary school.

Scrambler Bikes

Tower Hill is also an area where police receive reports of scrambler bikes. All partners taking part in the engagement day will share information with residents about the importance of reporting where scrambler bikes are being stored as part of Knowsley’s Brakes on Scrambler Bikes campaign. As well as being able to report directly to police, residents can also contact Knowsley’s Crime and Communities Team on at safer.knowsley@knowsley.gov.uk or by speaking to their housing officer in confidence.

In an emergency always call 999. If you witness any incident of criminal or anti-social behaviour please report it to Merseyside Police via 101 or online here.