Police said they’ve taken action after rising complaints of antisocial behaviour in the area
Richmond Street in New Brighton(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
People’s homes have reportedly been targeted by groups of youths in a Merseyside seaside resort as police take action to tackle antisocial behaviour. A New Brighton community group said they were “anxious to nip it in the bud before it gets worse”.
While the overall crime rate in New Brighton is below both the Wirral and the England average, rates of antisocial behaviour are higher including being the highest in Wallasey. This is according to crime data between March 2024 and February 2025 published through Wirral Council’s Intelligence Service.
A letter sent to over 500 people by Merseyside Police, Riverside Housing, and Wirral Council on April 8 said they were currently investigating reports of antisocial behaviour in and around the seaside resort. They said they had had complaints “including drug activity, illegal use of vehicles (including scrambler bikes and electric bikes), fly-tipping, arson, and groups of youths targeting residents’ homes”.
The letter said the behaviour wouldn’t be tolerated, urging people to report incidents as “it will be very difficult to take any action without your help” and authorities were working to identify any perpetrators and action. This could include people losing their tenancies, behaviour orders, and Police Investigations.
Merseyside Police said earlier this month, they carried out 26 stop checks and three youths were identified for further action to be taken. Wirral Council said it is also looking to put a CCTV camera in the Tower Grounds area.
Sean Martin from the New Brighton Coastal Community said they were keen to nip the issues in the bud(Image: Copyright Unknown)
The letters were sent out with the help of the New Brighton Coastal Community, an organisation representing businesses and community organisations. Sean Martin, its chair, on social media told the LDRS: “It does get a lot worse in the summer but it seems to have started earlier this year. It’s been growing and growing. We have had several meetings with Merseyside Police just trying to see what can be done to prevent it.”
Mr Martin said there had been incidents of lads on bikes wearing balaclavas racing along the pavements and was concerned New Brighton was being targeted because it was seen as less policed than other areas with people “gravitating here who think they can act the clown without getting caught.” He said they were “anxious to nip it in the bud before it gets worse in the summer”.
In 2024, he said people on bikes had terrified customers of local businesses. However he praised police and council action to tackle the issues which he said included more police officers.
Local Policing Inspector Sharon Robinson said they have a range of measures in place working with partners following increased reports in New Brighton and urged people to report all antisocial behaviour. She told the LDRS: “As expected during the half-term, we received more reports of children causing ASB in the local area.
“Part of the reason why we believe reports of ASB have increased is because of our ongoing work to encourage people to tell us if they experience any issues in their community.”
She added: “We delivered more than 500 letters to homes and visited seven businesses as part of this day of action, but our work will continue and we are determined to reduce incidents of ASB.
“We followed this up with the New Brighton Staysafe programme on Friday 11 April, which was a multi-agency approach aimed at identifying young people at risk of harm and exploitation and provide a place of safety where assessments can be made with follow up care.
“During this day, we carried out 26 stop checks and three youths were identified and will be followed up with ASB enforcement action. Our advice to those who live, work and visit New Brighton and all other areas remains the same: please report it.
“It is vitally important that people engage with us on this and any ASB and crime issues they may be experiencing. I can assure you that all reports will be assessed and the appropriate action taken, which often takes place in the background, or could require longer term solutions. Putting our resources in the right areas improves things for everyone, and helps us offer support and solution to those who need it.”
Wirral Council’s Community Safety team has started using a mobile CCTV camera to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour hotspots. It was recently deployed in New Brighton, West Kirby, Liscard, and Woodchurch.
A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “Multi-agency activity is ongoing and we will continue to consider and use the enforcement tools available to us, where appropriate. We are also exploring, subject to technical feasibility and public consultation, the siting of a CCTV camera in or around Tower Grounds, using external funding.”
Riverside Housing were approached for comment.