Police and council officers are patrolling in parks across Liverpool in a bid to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour – with multiple arrests already made.
Merseyside Police and the city council have joined forces for the operation, aimed at making the city's parks and open spaces a safer place for residents and visitors.
Operation Park Safe sees officers conduct patrols of parks to provide a highly visible presence and address issues of antisocial behaviour (ASB) during weekends and key times of the year.
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Local officers are joined by park enforcement officers from City Watch’s Safer Parks team and the Roads Policing Unit to target ASB, crime and the illegal use of off-road vehicles.
The operation has led to multiple arrests, vehicle seizures and community resolution orders.
During one patrol, officers intercepted a suspected drug deal in Falkner Square Gardens. The man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and was found with several wraps of heroin and a large quantity of cash in his possession.
Whilst on patrol in St John’s Gardens, City Watch and police officers arrested a man on suspicion of a robbery in Liverpool ONE, after being sighted on CCTV.
Inspector Nicola Hamilton said: “Operation Park Safe is our partnership approach to keep Liverpool’s parks and open spaces safe for everyone. This involves patrols of the parks, responding to calls and acting on intelligence from the public.
“We work closely with Liverpool Council’s City Watch team to patrol, reduce antisocial behaviour and provide a reassuring presence for the public.
“The vast majority of the public treat the parks with respect and the feedback has been really positive. We would ask members of the community to report any issues to us, so we can continue to take action.
“If you witness or experience ASB, report it online via our website or to the council. By working together, we can take positive action to help build stronger, healthier communities.”
Liverpool has 208 parks and green spaces which are covered by the council’s Patrol and Response team,.
Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene, said: “The Safer Parks programme has achieved some great results this Summer, not least in reassuring residents that our world class parks and green spaces are theirs to enjoy, in safety.
“The Safer Parks programme is a great team effort between our Parks and City Watch teams and their colleagues in Merseyside Police. They’ve also been greatly assisted by the many wonderful friends of the parks and local community groups who support their activities and help to highlight areas so we can tackle those issues that are of most concern, be it scrambler bikes to fly-tipping.
“This approach has helped to forge ever greater links with communities and partners, which will provide a lasting legacy of effective networks that will help to strengthen our ability to respond to issues and ensure our green spaces remain everyone’s to enjoy and spaces where nature can continue to flourish in our city.”
Anyone who has information about anti-social behaviour or other criminal activity in the community, you can contact us by sending a DM to @MerPolCC, calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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