Kids with eggs, knives and fireworks wreaked havoc across Merseyside on Mischief Night.
October 30 was a very busy night for Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services, with the force reporting a 16% increase in calls on Mischief Night. Before the evening came in Merseyside Police put eight dispersal zones in place in Maghull, Netherton, Bootle, Crosby, Waterloo, Southport, Birkdale and Formby.
During the course of the evening, police seized a number of items including fireworks and eggs. Officers carried out more than 150 stop searches to try and prevent antisocial behaviour.
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During the stop searches police arrested a 13-year-old boy in Knowsley after he was found to be in possession of a large kitchen knife. Two 14-year-old boys were also arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage after incidents in Maghull and on West Derby road – they were both released under investigation.
Another 14-year-old boy was stop searched and found to be in possession of fireworks following reports fireworks were being fired into a road in Belle Vale. A well as children, three adults were arrested by police on suspicion of a number of different offences.
In two separate incidents, a 25-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class B drugs in Tuebrook, and a 41-year-old man was arrested for possession of a controlled drug on Queens Drive.
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving while disqualified on Sheil Road. He is still in police custody. James Dean Anthony Hennessy, 40, of Northumberland Terrace in Everton, was arrested and charged with on suspicion of drink/drug driving on Queens Drive, Walton.
A number of buses were damaged by youths causing antisocial behaviour and criminality in West Derby, Maghull and Huyton. Officers are working with Merseytravel and local bus companies are looking at CCTV from the buses to identify those responsible.
Chief Inspector Duncan Swan said: “We have a highly visible policing presence across the region in the lead up to Bonfire Night on Sunday, 5 November, and my message to those intent on committing criminality, particularly criminality that could result in people being injured, is that we will be robust in our response. Just last night we carried out more than 150 stop searches following incidents of criminality and ASB, as a result we recovered weapons, illegal drugs and fireworks.
“Sadly we can say that last night we saw a 16% increase in calls to emergency services compared to last year, and some of those incidents include items being thrown at buses. This type of behaviour will not be tolerated, the drivers and passengers on those buses, could be at risk of harm and it will have been really unsettling for them.
"As a result of those incidents some bus services have been withdrawn from service and this is having a huge impact on the wider community, particularly those who rely on public transport, and is not acceptable. We are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the areas to identify those responsible so that action can be taken.
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents, and guardians, to know where your child is and what they are up to – just imagine if it was your loved one who was on the receiving end of the activity last night. Also do you want to face possibility that your child could be arrested and end up with a criminal record, which could prevent them from achieving their ambitions in the future.
“Please be assured that our officers will continue to provide a high visibility presence in the lead up to Bonfire Night. They will continue to conduct stop searches and large groups of people will be dispersed so that they behave responsibly and our communities are kept safe.”
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