City Centre North

We are responding to community concerns linked to a range of anti-social behaviour linked to youth groups and members of the street community across the ward. The main number of reports over the last month have been around the areas of Williamson Square and around Highfield Street, near to Vauxhall Road.

We continue to work closely with partner organisations to address ongoing issues in the area.
Neighbourhood officers regularly patrol the area and engage with businesses, residents, and community representatives. These conversations help us understand local concerns, respond effectively to issues, and gather valuable information to support our work.
We have carried out a number of proactive operations, using both plain-clothed officers and high-visibility patrols to target criminality and anti-social behaviour. Several Community Protection Notices and Community Protection Orders have also been issued to individuals whose behaviour was having a negative impact on the community.
Throughout the summer holidays, we have implemented a dedicated policing and disruption plan to tackle seasonal increases in anti-social behaviour. This has included enhanced foot patrols, increased officer visibility, and greater engagement with businesses, residents, and visitors across the city centre.
We have worked closely with Liverpool City Council to support the introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), providing evidence to assist the application process. The PSPO is now in place and is being actively enforced by police officers and PCSOs. Since its introduction, officers have taken robust action against those who fail to comply, including directing individuals away from the area and reporting breaches to the council for further enforcement action.
A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is a legal measure used to address persistent anti-social behaviour within designated public areas, helping to ensure these spaces remain safe, welcoming, and accessible for everyone.
As the summer holiday period continues, we remain committed to working alongside Liverpool City Council to promote awareness of the PSPO and provide reassurance to residents, businesses, and visitors.
Following incidents involving youth violence three Section 60 stop and search power have been authorised in July. Additional officers from the Matrix Team were deployed to provide extra support and reassurance. Section 60 allows officers to stop and search people without specific suspicion when serious violence is expected. A total of 84 people were searched under these authorities and eight arrests made for a variety of offences.
Neighbourhood officers are carrying out targeted patrols at key locations and during peak times when incidents are more likely to occur. Officers will continue to maintain a visible presence and respond proactively to concerns raised by the community.
Working in partnership with Liverpool City Council, we have also arranged for overgrown vegetation on the city centre side of Leeds Street to be cleared. The area had become associated with drug use and anti-social behaviour, and its removal has significantly improved visibility and reduced opportunities for this activity.
We encourage anyone who witnesses crime or anti-social behaviour to report it. Incidents can be reported by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. Reports can also be submitted online, or in person at Admiral Street Police Station or St Anne Street Police Station.

We aim to build trust with local retailers by responding proactively to retail crime and encouraging confidence in reporting incidents such as shop theft, burglary, and robbery, so we can better support businesses across Liverpool City Centre.

During July, we have continued to make significant progress in tackling retail crime across the City Centre North ward, securing numerous arrests and charges for shop theft offences. Our officers remain relentless in pursuing those responsible for offending against local businesses, helping to improve safety and confidence within the retail community.
One current example is a male suspect we have identified as being responsible for nine separate shop theft offences. He is one of a number of prolific offenders we have identified and are actively pursuing as part of our ongoing commitment to protecting businesses and bringing offenders to justice.
To strengthen this work, we have introduced a dedicated team of officers through a new initiative known as Operation Santiago. Launched in late 2025, Operation Santiago focuses on tackling shop theft, burglary and robbery in key retail locations across Liverpool City Centre. The team works closely with local businesses and takes a proactive, intelligence-led approach to reducing crime and supporting retailers.
Officers provide a regular, high-visibility presence in busy retail areas, helping to deter criminal activity while reassuring business owners, staff and visitors. Priority locations are reviewed weekly by the Sergeant leading the operation to ensure resources are focused where they are needed most.
Key activities under Operation Santiago include:
•Joint patrols with local security teams, increasing visibility, strengthening partnerships and enabling real-time intelligence sharing.
•Targeted action against anti-social behaviour and repeat offenders, including the use of pre-Community Protection Notices (pre-CPNs) and Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to disrupt offending and protect businesses.
•Attendance at Retail Watch meetings, organised by Liverpool BID and Liverpool ONE, where officers provide crime prevention advice, guidance on preserving crime scenes using "Golden Hour" principles, and address concerns raised by retailers.
•"Cuppa with a Copper" events, providing an informal opportunity for businesses to engage with local officers, build relationships and share feedback.
Operation Santiago has also contributed to the successful securing of a number of Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) against persistent offenders operating within the area. These orders play an important role in reducing crime by placing strict conditions on individuals who repeatedly target businesses.
A CBO is a court order imposed following a criminal conviction and is designed to prevent further anti-social or criminal behaviour. Orders can include restrictions, such as banning an individual from certain locations, as well as positive requirements, including engagement with support services. Breaching a CBO is a criminal offence and can result in arrest and further court proceedings.
We also recognise that some businesses are affected by offenders whose criminality is linked to substance misuse. To address this issue, funding has been secured for a Safer Pod, which has been installed in stores experiencing persistent problems. The Safer Pod has already proven effective as a highly visible deterrent, helping to reduce offending and support retailers.
We have applied for funding via the Citysafe Board to seek to increase the number of Safer Pods in the area based on the results of a trial use of them with the results being as follows…
•A 34% reduction in overall incidents within the trial area.
•A 40% reduction in violence-related incidents.
•An 84% reduction in incidents at Chavasse Park/Sugar House Steps, a known hotspot location.
•A 56.6% reduction in intervention activity, indicating that behaviour was being deterred before enforcement became necessary.
•More than 90% of surveyed visitors reported feeling safer as a result of the deployment.
•Frontline staff reported clear behavioural changes, reductions in youth congregations and a noticeable decrease in anti-social behaviour around the deployment sites.
We encourage all businesses and members of the public to report every incident of business crime or offences against retail staff. Reporting helps us build intelligence, identify repeat offenders and target our resources effectively.
Incidents can be reported by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. Reports can also be submitted online or in person at the General Enquiry Offices at Admiral Street Police Station or St Anne Street Police Station.
Through strong partnerships, proactive policing and the dedicated work of Operation Santiago, we will continue to target those who cause harm to our retail community and ensure Liverpool city centre remains a safe and welcoming place to work, visit and do business.