Police spotted searching woodland as cops deal with 'incident' around church

22 August 2023 , 21:31

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Police spotted searching woodland as cops deal with 'incident' around church

Forensic officers are tonight searching a road and woodland around a church, approximately one mile from where a gun was discovered.

Streets are closed in and around Kirkby, Merseyside, while officers investigate a road and a hedgerow near the religious building. A large number of matrix police vans have been at the scene since around 8pm.

But Merseyside Police stressed the public should not be concerned - despite a weapon being found one mile away in the Northwood area of the town. It is not known whether these two incidents are linked at this stage.

Officers in the latest search can be seen in photographs walking down a street, with their heads down, searching the road for something.

Police search a wooded area in Kirkby, Merseyside (Liverpool Echo)

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police, who confirmed a job is underway in the area, said: "There is no cause for concern to the public. Enquires are ongoing." The force confirmed it was not connected to a missing person's inquiry currently going on in the area.

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Liverpool Echo reports, unconfirmed by the constabulary, that police were searching outside two pubs within the one-mile area today. It is also unknown whether this is connected to the two incidents in the town today.

The force stressed the investigation should be a 'cause for concern' for the public (Liverpool Echo)

Speaking yesterday after the weapon was discovered in a blue plastic bag in Kirkby, Detective Inspector John Mullen said: "It’s pleasing to see another weapon taken off our streets as part of our ongoing efforts to reduce gun crime in Merseyside. Our enquiries are ongoing into this incident and officers remain at the scene. If you have any information, please come forward.

"We have a zero-tolerance approach to any person involved in the use of, possession of, and storage of firearms, and we will relentlessly pursue anyone involved in this type of awful criminality. We proactively investigate serious organised crime in Merseyside, including the use of guns and the supply and distribution of drugs.

"Information from the public is vital if we are to breakdown the organised crime groups who bring misery to our streets. It is vital that members of our communities come forward with information so we can make our communities safer for the decent, law abiding people who live in areas affected by gun crime."

Kate Mcmullin