Severe damage to community hub and other properties following violent disorder on Country Road

Last night (Saturday, 3 August) approximately 300 people were involved in violent disorder on County Road, Walton.

The group gathered at around 8pm and from the start were intent on committing serious violence and disorder, which resulted in community facilities being set on fire.

The Spellow Lane Library Hub, which was opened last year to provide a much needed on stop shop for one of the most deprived communities in the country, has suffered severe damage to the ground floor. When firefighters arrived those gathered tried to stop them, without success, from getting to the fire to put it out. They even threw a missile at the fire engine and broke the rear window of the cab.

Also set on fire was a local convenience store which provides a vital service for the community, earlier a number of people had entered the shop en masse and stolen a number of items including the till. Other shops were broken into and a number of wheelie bins and industrial bins were set on fire.

During the day 23 arrests were made. 12 people were arrested for the disorder in the city centre, nine people were arrested for the disorder on County Road and two people were arrested in connection with disorder in Southport.

ACC Alex Goss, said: “The violence and damage caused on County Road this evening is sickening and nothing can excuse the deplorable behaviour seen on our streets today. The impact of the disorder will be devastating for the people of Walton, but I promise that we are doing everything in our power to arrest those involved and bring them to justice.

“Throughout the day our officers have been confronted with violence on the streets of the city centre and on County Road. Firefighters who attended to put out a fire at the Spellow Lane Library Hub were also confronted by the group who tried to prevent them putting out the fire. These actions are utterly despicable.

“Many of those involved were young people and sadly, they were probably local. We are urging parents and guardians to make sure they know where their children are and what they are up to.

“I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the violence, or who knows those who were involved to contact us so we can find them and bring them to justice. In the coming days we will be examining footage from police body worn cameras and CCTV footage to identify the culprits.

He added: “I would like to thank our officers, and officers West Midlands, Lancashire, Cheshire, North Wales, Cumbria and Greater Manchester, who have been so professional throughout the day, and have bravely stepped up to the plate despite having bricks, wheelie bin, industrial bins and other items thrown at them. I would also like to thank Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for their support, the North West Ambulance Service and staff at the Royal University Hospital who have provided medical assistance to our injured officers and Liverpool City Council, who will be out in the early hours of the morning trying to clean up the street and restore some semblance of normality.”

Anyone who has any concerns following today’s events or has information to help identify those responsible can DM @MerPolCC or message Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook.

Alternatively call 101 or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form on the website HERE.