Nearly 70 people searched as part of s60 orders in Kirkby

Nearly 70 people have been searched as part of the s60 orders which have been in place in the Kirkby area in the past four days. 

Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allows a police officer to stop and search a person without suspicion.

The decision was taken to introduce the orders into Kirkby following two incidents over the weekend in which James Halewood was fatally stabbed in Broad Lane on Sunday afternoon and a man was shot near to the Windmill pub on Friday evening.

Two Section 60 orders have now been completed and a third commenced from midday today.

Across the first two orders a total of 68 searches were carried out.

One resulted in an arrest for the possession of a knife; two resulted in drug warnings for cannabis; two resulted in penalty notices for cannabis and one resulted in a person being warned in for interview under caution for cannabis possession.

Two knives were also recovered.

Knowsley Community Inspector Peter Rexwinkel said: "We don’t take the decision lightly to introduce s60s but they are a valuable tool for us as part of our activity to tackle serious and violent crime.

"We want our communities to feel reassured that officers are out and about in the areas where they are needed and act as a visible deterrent to anyone wanting to commit criminality.

"It is particular important that the public feel safe and confident to go about their daily business, particularly when there have been serious incidents in their neighbourhoods."