Crime has fallen by 40% in an area of Sefton that has benefited from the Home Office-backed Clear, Hold, Build strategy that was launched 12 months ago.

The Clear, Hold, Build project, which is known locally as EVOLVE Netherton, was publicly launched on April 5, 2023 and has seen police and partners working tirelessly to tackle serious and organised crime in the Park Lane estate area.

Since the launch 59 people have been arrested, hundreds of thousands of pounds of Class A and B drugs, knives, several firearms and ammunition seized and numerous stolen bikes and vehicles recovered.

There have been the following reductions in crimes since April 2023:

58% decrease in serious and acquisitive crime
16% decrease in possession of controlled drugs
38 % decrease in vehicle crime
71% decrease in burglaries
33% decrease in common assaults
61% decrease in criminal damage
30% decrease in violence with injury
40% decrease in all crime

Officers have conducted numerous land searches for drugs and weapons - one of which resulted in 36-year-old Adrian Craig of Haven Road, Fazakerley, receiving five years in prison for possession of Class A and B drugs with intent to supply.

Officers have also carried out regular high visibility patrols on the Park Lane estate to provide disruption to criminal activity and reassurance to the community.

EVOLVE Netherton partners have held several community events and days of action; made several cuckooing referrals; safeguarded numerous vulnerable adults and children and saw £40k in cash given to local community groups to improve the area from The Power to Park Lane participatory budget event last June.

Community Chief Inspector Tracie Trubshaw, who is one of the senior officers involved in EVOLVE Netherton, said: “The impact of serious and organised crime, especially when it is happening on your doorstep, is considerable.

“Those involved in gang-related activity have little thought for others and the consequences their criminality has on lives - this is clearly not acceptable.

“No-one should have to live in the shadows of crime groups and together with our partners we have made significant progress in the disruption of serious and organised crime in Netherton.

“We are determined to ensure that the successes of the last 12 months continue, and we will be carrying on our work with partners and the community to stop the criminals, protect the vulnerable and build brighter futures so the Park Lane area continues to become a place people love to live, work and visit.

“As our Silence is Not an Option campaign says though, we need people to speak out if we are going to make the greatest difference.

“Even the smallest piece of information about those involved in drugs or other criminal activity given to Crimestoppers completely anonymously, where no-one but you will ever know you made that call or online report, could make such a difference to helping get those involved in criminality and spoiling our communities off our streets so they are safer for generations to come.”

A number of offenders have been sentenced since the launch of EVOLVE Netherton including:

Ryan Size, aged 25, of Bolden Close, Netherton was sentenced on March 1, 2024 to 30 months for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply
Adrian Craig, aged 36, of Haven Road, Fazakerley, was sentenced on October 2, 2023 to five years for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply
Gordon Rhodes, aged 58, of Netherton, was sentenced on August 17, 2023 to nine years and nine months for possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of cannabis
Jacob Dickinson, aged 19, of Seaforth was sentenced on June 8, 2023 to six years for robbery and section 18 wounding
Many other offenders remain under investigation.

EVOLVE's Silence is Not an Option campaign aims to educate people about the signs of gang activity and encourage reporting to break the cycle of gang crime by making an anonymous report to Crimestoppers.

To learn more and make an online report see here: Give information 100% anonymously about organised crime in Merseyside | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)

Alternatively, anyone with information about crime can call Merseyside Police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

There are some bold numbers in there.

I don't quite understand why what seems to be "normal policing" is named as a "Clear, Hold, Build strategy"

Still musn't be churlish, well done to all those out clearing up the deadwood on our streets.

Heaven help us all if the next government legalise drugs.