Operation Target continues to take action in Bootle

We are continuing to target crime and disorder in our communities with a multi-agency day of action in Bootle today, Wednesday 31^st July.

Our Op Target officers are carrying out search warrants, open land searches and ANPR checks as well as high visibility and plain clothes patrols around the area of Bootle and Bootle South park.

Officers have also been carrying out visits to licensed and business premises including pubs, bookmakers, takeaways and convenience stores.

Working with partners there is also taxi and tenancy enforcement operations as well as a community clean up.

The operation is supported by our officers, PCSOs, dog and mounted section, roads policing and the North West Marine and Underwater Search unit who are operating on the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

A dispersal zone will also be in place from 5pm today until 5pm on Friday 2^nd August.

The zone will cover all areas within the boundaries of: Balliol Rd j/w Kings Rd to Breeze Hill j/w A5038. A5038 to j/w Bedford Road. Bedford Road to j/w Antonio Street. Antonio Street to j/w Hawthorne Rd. Hawthorne Road to j/w Marsh Street. Marsh Street, Celia Street , Macbeth Street j/w Kings Road. Kings Road to j/w Balliol Rd.

The action comes on the back of a day of action earlier this month in which we executed seven warrants and recovered drugs, weapons including knives, a baseball bat and shotgun cartridges and scrambler bikes in the Bootle area.

Superintendent Graeme Robson, Area Commander for Sefton, said: “We make no apologies for continuing to take proactive action in the communities which we feel benefit the most.

“We want criminals to get sick and tired of seeing us disrupting their criminal activities and we want our communities to know that their safety and wellbeing is our priority.

“Targetting serious violence is a key objective of Operation Target but we also know that other issues such as drug dealing, antisocial behaviour and low level criminality all impact on our communities and can be directly linked to violent crime.

“We also want our communities to feel proud of where they live which is why it is important for us to link in with partner agencies such as Sefton council and show our co-ordinated approach.”

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: "We are wholly committed to ensuring our communities across Sefton are kept safe and live in harmony without the fear of serious crime.

"Our partnership with Merseyside Police and action in Bootle is testament to our ongoing work to make sure Sefton is a borough for everybody and that we will do everything we can to both deter criminal activity and make sure those who do break the law are brought to justice."