Community garden launched as part of serious and organised crime crackdown in Netherton

Work has started on a community garden in Netherton as part of a project to tackle serious and organised crime in the area.

Partners from EVOLVE Netherton, which is one of three Clear, Hold, Build projects currently taking place in Merseyside to improve areas worst affected by serious and organised crime, have started work on the community garden close to Park Lane.

The area, which is a disused piece of land between Chester Avenue and Atlantic Park, had been a hot spot for fly tipping and drug-related activity.

Insp Doug Chadwick said: “The idea is to design out crime and create a garden for all the community to enjoy.

“We are just starting to clear the land to pave way for plants and build an aesthetic area that can no longer be used by those engaging in drug-related activity and other criminality.

“This project is reflective of the Build phase that EVOLVE Netherton is now in, and we continue to work hard to ensure the area is safer for generations to come.”

EVOLVE Netherton was launched in April 2023 and has seen year-on-year reductions in crime with the following decreases in an 18-month period before its launch to 18 months after:

• All crime – 26% decrease
• ASB – 56.5% decrease
• Serious and Acquisitive Crime – 48.6% decrease
• Drugs – 18% decrease
• Burglaries – 56% decrease
• Personal robberies – 40% decrease
• Common Assaults - 30% decrease
• Criminal Damage – 40% decrease
• Violence with injury – 4% decrease

The area, which is the smallest of the Clear, Hold, Build projects and covers Park Lane, has also seen 183 arrests, 15 warrants executed, 3kg of cocaine and one cannabis cultivation seized, three firearms and ammunition recovered, £8,000 in cash seized and nine vulnerable people who were being exploited have been safeguarded.

Christine Holloway, Community Safety Officer for The Sovini Group, added: “We were approached about some unused land by individuals from the Park Lane estate and embarked on a collaboration with Netherton Park community centre, residents and local partner agencies. 

“The intention being, to enable the local community to utilise this piece of land for something that will have a direct positive impact on families and individuals within the area.

“We are excited to help facilitate this opportunity and look forward to seeing the community garden flourish for this close knit and thriving community.”