Update Following Two Injury Shootings
Officers in Knowsley, working with officers from the specialist
Matrix team, have put an operation in place to disrupt criminality
in the area following two injury shootings at the weekend.
The victims in both shootings are not co-operating with the
police and officers are appealing for anyone with information to
come forward and help them with their inquiries.
Chief Superintendent Mike Cloherty, said: "Neither of the
victims involved in the incidents on Saturday is helping the
police, but we will not let the matter rest there.
"I would like to reassure residents that we have put a signicant
disruption plan in place in the Stockbridge Village and Huyton
areas and over the coming days will be doing everything we can to
disrupt those involved in criminality in the area.
"We understand that some people who have vital information may
be reluctant to come forward because they are frightened, but I
would say to them that there are things we can put in place to
protect them and if they are really concerned about being
identified they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555
111.
"We will act on any information. We are not prepared to
stand by and let the minority of people involved in gun and gang
crime cause fear and intimidation in our communities.
"In 2011 those convicted of firearms and drugs offences on
Merseyside following investigations by the Matrix Reactive and
covert teams received prison sentences totalling just under 700
years. And the message is clear that we will not stop here -
if you are involved in organised crime involving drugs and gun
crime on Merseyside we are committed to taking action and putting
you before the courts.
"We are determined to reduce the number of discharges on our
streets, but we need our communities help to do it - if you can
help us take firearms and gun crime offenders off our streets
contact the specialist Matrix team on 0151 777 5699, or
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
The first incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 30
June.
Officers were called at around 12.10am to reports that shots had
been heard in the Waterpark Drive area.
A short while later, an ambulance was called to nearby Marled
Hey to treat a 17-year-old local man who had suffered a wound
to his upper leg.
The man, who is not co-operating with the police, was taken to
hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.
A search of the area and house-to-house enquiries have been
carried out. It is believed that the shooting may have
happened on Steerscroft, Stockbridge Village, and
officers are calling for anyone who has information to come
forward.
The investigation is in its early stages and at this time
detectives are keeping an open mind in relation to the motive for
the attack, which they believe was targeted.
A significant police presence was put in to the Stockbridge
Village area following the incident and to reassure local residents
and disrupt criminality in the area.
Two warrants were executed yesterday (Saturday, 30 June) at
addresses in Stockbridge Village. At one address a 30-year-old
man was arrested for breaching bail conditions and he has
subsequently been bailed with conditions. At a second address
officers seized 1200 Euros under the Proceeds of Crime
Act.
A further three warrants were executed in the Clubmoor
area of Liverpool today (Sunday, 1 July) and a 21-year-old man from
Clubmoor has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm
with intent to endanger life.
Officers were alerted to a second shooting after a
23-year-old man from Huyton turned up at hospital on Saturday
afternoon (30 June 2012) with a gunshot wound to his arm.
Officers were called at around 3.20pm after the man presented
himself at hospital suffering from a single gun shot wound to his
right bicep.
The victim, who has been released from hospital, has been
vague about where he was shot, but said it was either on Page Moss
Road, Dovecot (near to the shops), or in the Grant Road area of
Page Moss, possibly some time between 1pm and 3pm.
Officers have carried out extensive searches in both of these
areas, but so far have not found any evidence of shots being fired
and enquiries are ongoing.
Patrols have been stepped up in the area to reassure the
community and an investigation to establish the full circumstances
of the incident is underway.
A warrant was subsequently carried out at an address in Huyton
and cannabis cultivation paraphernalia was recovered.
At this stage of the investigation detectives are unable to
confirm a motive for the shooting and do not believe it is
connected to the earlier incident in Stockbridge Village.
Anyone who may have witnessed either of these incidents, or who
has information which could help police in relation to
this inquiries, is asked to contact the specialist Matrix team
on 0151 777 5699, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555
111.