A police officer: “Some of the reports we’ve received include groups of youths causing criminal damage, threatening people and causing fear and alarm for local residents and staff”
A general image of a police officer in Huyton(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Police have been given extra powers in one part of Merseyside in response to gangs of children causing criminal damage. Merseyside Police has introduced a section 34 dispersal zone in Huyton this evening following an increase in anti-social behaviour.
The order came into place at 5pm today, Friday, and runs until the same time on Saturday. It will cover an area of the Knowsley town bounded by Lordens Road to the junction of Wimborne Road, St David’s Road to Barketh Road and Woolfall Heath Avenue.
It also includes Terminus Road to Liverpool Road and Huyton House Road and Liverpool Road/East Prescott Road to Lordens Road.
The order, under section 34 the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, gives officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people who are engaging in anti-social behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents away from the area.
Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for.
It also gives officers the power to seize any item that could be used for anti-social behaviour.
Merseyside Police Neighbourhood policing Inspector Dave Hassett said: “This action has been taken following recent reports of anti-social behaviour involving youths in the area.
“Some of the reports we’ve received include groups of youths causing criminal damage, threatening people and causing fear and alarm for local residents and staff who work in this area of Huyton.
“This sort of behaviour will never be acceptable and we want to make sure everyone feels safe in our communities.
A map of the dispersal zone in Huyton(Image: Merseyside Police)
“This dispersal zone will provide us with extra powers to remove people causing trouble, or likely to cause trouble. It is about supporting those in the area who have been affected in the past few days, not bothering those going about their business.
“We hope those people will welcome seeing more officers in the area tackling this behaviour, and speak to us with any concerns.
“I also want to ask parents and guardians to speak to children and young people and stress to them the dangers of engaging in anti-social behaviour, and have an idea where they are going in the evening, and who they are with.”
The force said that anyone with information on anti-social behaviour in their area is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X and Facebook @MerPolCC.
You can also report information via the force’s website: Report a crime | Merseyside Police or call 101. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: Giving information | Crimestoppers. In an emergency always call 999.