Fifteen arrests as part of Operation Target day of action in Wirral

Operation Target officers have been carrying out a day of action in Wirral today, Thursday 15^th August, to tackle crime and disorder in local communities.

Officers carried out drugs warrants, open land searches and roadside checks in the Birkenhead and Tranmere areas as well as high visibility and plain clothes patrols around the area of Mersey Park and Victoria Park.

In total we carried out:

• Five warrants
• 30 stop searches
• Two open land searches
• 15 people were arrested for a variety of offences including robbery, burglary, and shop theft
• Drugs were seized and a cannabis farm dismantled
• A lockdown of the Beechwood estate was carried out
• Over 50 driver notices were issued as part of a joint roadside operation with the Driving Standards Agency

Targeted Policing Chief Inspector Steve Brizell said: “We are continuing with these days of action because we know they are successful and members of the public are pleased to see our officers on the streets.

“We make no apologies for using all our available tactics to target those who are responsible for criminality in Merseyside.

“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.

“The welfare of our communities and those who live in them are our priority and we will continue to take action such as this so people can go about their day to day business in peace and without fear of crime.

“A lot of the action we carry out is as a direct result of information we have received and I would continue to ask the public to support us in what we are doing - tell us where weapons are being stored and who is dealing drugs in your neighbourhood so we can take action.”

Anyone with information can DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.