Merseyside Police launch major operation in the fight against crime in Knowsley

More than 250 Merseyside Police officers are carrying out a large-scale policing operation, codenamed Operation Vanguard, in Stockbridge Village and Huyton today (Thursday 11 December).

Residents will see a huge number of officers and police vehicles on the ground as Merseyside Police undertake a sustained and relentless offensive against criminals operating in our local communities.

Merseyside Police says that Operation Vanguard reinforces their commitment to keeping our communities safe by taking strong action against those involved in criminality in your area and supports the work they are doing day in, day out.

Merseyside Police know the overwhelming majority of the people in Knowsley are decent people who work hard and want to live in peace, but their lives are blighted by those involved in criminality, whether that be drug supply, serious violence, Violence Against Women and Girls, robbery, retail crime, theft or serious organised crime.

Since the start of the financial year officers in Knowsley have been working to tackle issues including serious violence, robberies of electric bikes and violence fuelled by an element of serious and organised crime.

This has included two recent firearms discharges in the Huyton area, an attempt murder of a child in Kirkby, which resulted in a 15-year-old boy being convicted, and two arrests after an 18-year-old in Huyton lost his hand after being attacked at a house party in September this year.

As a result, the local policing area has stood up Operation ZINC (response to ASB related activity) and Operation Athena, this is an operational response to a critical incident. Both operations mean officers are dedicated to providing targeted activities to tackle those involved in crime in those area.

Some of the results include:

The charge and remand of Adrian Moore for an aggravated burglary (with a firearm)
The recovery of a firearm recovered during an open land search in Kirkby
The recovery of a firearm recovery following an injury discharge on Radway Road in Huyton
The charge of David Bigley following a County Lines operation
A youth charged and remanded for three counts of possession of a bladed article – one of those relating to a street robbery
Increased policing resources over Op Banger which saw an overall drop of 15% in crimes and ASB compared with the year before.

This morning Merseyside Police executed 16 warrants and throughout the day there will be further activity including:

Land searches
Underwater searches
Roadside operations by the Roads Policing Team
Safeguarding of vulnerable people being exploited by ruthless criminals
Reassurance visits
Activity by the County Lines team
Patrols by officers from our Local Policing Team, supported by officers from Matrix, Licensing, firearms and our Mounted and Dogs teams
Activity by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit
Targeting of suspects wanted for numerous offences including those involved in domestic abuse, serious violence, fraud, neighbourhood crime and drug related offending amongst other criminality

A total of 27 people have so far been arrested during a large-scale policing operation, codenamed Operation Vanguard, in Stockbridge Village and Huyton today.

More than 250 police officers are conducting warrants, roadside checks, land and underwater searches and more in a sustained and relentless offensive against criminals operating in our local communities. The activity will continue throughout the day.

Those detained were arrested on suspicion of offences including:

Supply of Class A and B drugs
Sexual assault
Possession of indecent images
Domestic assault
Drug driving
Drink driving
Theft
Criminal damage

A quantity of cocaine, cannabis, e-bikes and watches have also been seized by officers and will be forensically examined.

Credit: Merseyside Police The Guide Liverpool — Credit: Merseyside Police

Chief Constable Rob Carden said:

“The scale and impact of today’s operation should leave criminals in absolutely no doubt – we are here, we are watching, and if you are involved in criminality you can expect a knock on your door.

“This is one of the largest operations of this type that we have conducted in many years and demonstrates very clearly our contempt for those involved in criminality.

“This morning we have seen doors of suspects going in and throughout the day cars will be stopped, undergrowth and canals searched and there will have been significant numbers of officers on patrols in those areas the public tell us have been harmed by criminality. That work will continue throughout the day, and with colleagues from North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and British Transport police, Knowsley Council and other partners in this unified endeavour to tackle criminality.

“Today’s action reinforces our commitment to cracking down on crime and putting offenders behind bars, and we will not stop until justice has been served. 

“The focus of all of this is the protection of the public, and a vital part of today is the support and safeguarding we provide for vulnerable victims, alongside our partners including Knowsley Council and local charities and support services.

“Yesterday marked the end of 16 Days of activism across the world to end violence against women and girls, but our work to eliminate an issue that causes harm across Merseyside goes on 365 days a year and bringing offenders who hurt women and girls to justice is a key part of today’s activity.”

Chief Constable Carden added:

“While today is all about making a clear statement of intent in our fight to tackle criminality, I want to stress that the activity we are undertaking today goes on right across Merseyside 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

“We are stop searching suspects every day, conducting warrants at their homes, searching their properties and stopping their cars.

“Criminals have no right to conduct their offending here in Merseyside and we will go on disrupting them every day so that they are left in no doubt that they are not welcome here.

“The people of Merseyside have been a huge support in these efforts, and I ask that you keep telling us where criminals are operating, where they are storing and carrying drugs and weapons, and we will using all the powers and tools at our disposal to take robust action.”

Cllr Graham Morgan Leader of Knowsley Council commented:

“We know from speaking to our residents that feeling safe in their homes and communities is a huge priority for them. We know how much it matters to people that’s why we are so committed to working with our Police colleagues to bring to justice those who disrupt the lives of our residents.

The message is clear from Knowsley – if you break the law, there will be consequences.”