Inside police's 48-hour operation with 33 arrests after Everton double-shooting

16 December 2023 , 22:56

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Merseyside Police have arrested 33 people in the recent crackdown on violent crime

Police have made 33 arrests after a double shooting in Everton as cops scour the local area, with enhanced powers.

Two men were shot, suffering bad wounds in their legs, in the Everton area of Merseyside on Wednesday 13 December. This led to the local police force introducing Section 60 Orders which increased their powers. The dispersal order was put in place for 48 hours following the shooting, that saw an 18-year-old take himself to hospital.

They made 33 arrests and 165 stops as they worked to tackle serious crime and violence. As Police Community Support Officers walked around the community, reassuring locals, officers scoured the area in land searches, including on high visibility patrols on quad bikes in Everton Park.

Police carried out land searches in Everton Park on quad bikes

Merseyside Police said that the last 24 hours alone they conducted 81 stop checks and completed 12 arrests. Then, shortly after 3pm yesterday, a vehicle was stopped, and a large quantity of cash found inside. The local force said: "A 42-year-old man from Leicester was arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property and possession of two Section 5 firearms and a 25-year-old man from Kensington was arrested on suspicion of possession of two Section 5 firearms, driving otherwise than in accordance of a licence and driving with no insurance, drug driving and possession of criminal property. They have been bailed with conditions pending further enquiries."

Liverpool Targeted Policing Inspector David Grant said that across the 48-hour period the Section 60 Order was in force, officers seized drugs, dangerous weapons, and "significant quantities of cash as well as making number of arrests."

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PCSO are also present in local communities to support residents

He added: “This order was brought in after a shooting on Wednesday 13 December, when two men, aged 18 and 24, sustained gunshot wounds to their legs. I hope this activity demonstrates very clearly that there is simply no hiding place for anyone who brings misery to our communities. Those who are prepared to use guns on our streets, with little or no regard for other members of the community, will be pursued and brought before the courts.

“My message to those involved in gun crime and serious organised crime is clear – Merseyside Police will never rest and we will use everything in our power to reduce these offences.

“We recognise the need to not only tackle those who continue to bring harm and misery to the Everton area, but to engage with those who suffer at their hands, to gather information and to reassure the community that we are on their side. So we have combined enforcement with community engagement and will take the information we have gathered to target our future patrols in those areas and times that are affected most.

“We hope that this Section 60 order, and all of the additional resources involved, provided local residents with reassurance that Merseyside Police will do everything in our power to disrupt those who are intent on causing violence in our communities.”
“Information from the public is vital if we are to continue to break down the organised crime groups who bring misery to our streets and I would appeal to anyone who has information to come forward.

"If you don’t want to contact the police directly, then I would encourage you to use the totally independent and completely anonymous Crimestoppers service.”

You can pass any information by calling 101, via our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook with reference number 23001269221.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.

Kieren Williams