Suspected firearm found during open land search in Kirkby

We can confirm that a suspected firearm has been recovered following an open land search in Kirkby last night, Monday 21 August.

Officers carried out the search on land off Langton Road and found the weapon inside a blue plastic bag.

It was forensically recovered and tests will now be carried out to see if it’s a viable firearm.

Officers remain at the scene today, Tuesday 22 August, to continue enquiries.

Detective Inspector John Mullen said: “It’s pleasing to see another weapon taken off our streets as part of our ongoing efforts to reduce gun crime in Merseyside.

“Our enquiries are ongoing into this incident and officers remain at the scene. If you have any information, please come forward.

“We have a zero-tolerance approach to any person involved in the use of, possession of, and storage of firearms, and we will relentlessly pursue anyone involved in this type of awful criminality.

“We pro-actively investigate serious organised crime in Merseyside, including the use of guns and the supply and distribution of drugs.

“Information from the public is vital if we are to breakdown the organised crime groups who bring misery to our streets.

“It is vital that members of our communities come forward with information so we can make our communities safer for the decent, law abiding people who live in areas affected by gun crime.”

If you have any information, please contact us directly via @MerPolCC on Twitter, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook quoting reference 23000783517.

You can also call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.