Dispersal Zone in Belle Vale following serious assault of teenager

We have introduced a Dispersal Zone in Belle Vale following the serious assault of a teenager last night, Wednesday 11 December.
 
The Dispersal Zone is in place from 3pm today (Thursday 12 December) until 3pm on Saturday 14 December.
 
At around 7.15pm, a 14-year-old boy was admitted to hospital after sustaining a slash wound to his face. He is in a stable condition.
 
The incident is believed to have taken place at the entrance of Belle Vale Park near to McDonalds on Childwall Valley Road and officers remain at the scene carrying out CCTV, forensic and witness enquiries, as well as extra patrols to enforce the Dispersal Zone.

The area covered by the Dispersal Zone is as follows: Naylorsfield Drive onto Sarum Road; Sarum Road onto Childwall Valley Road; Childwall Valley Road to the junction with Barnham Drive; Barnham Drive onto Gateacre Park Drive to the junction with Grange Lane; Grange Lane onto Belle Vale Road; Belle Vale Road onto Lee Vale Road, onto Kings Drive; and Kings Drive onto Naylorsfield Drive. 
 
The Dispersal Zone comes under Section 34/35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers the powers to direct people engaging in anti-social behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents and not return for up to 48 hours. Officers also have the power to seize items used for anti-social behaviour. 
 
Should a person who has previously been directed to leave but returns to the area, then an offence would be committed, and they may be arrested.
 
Detective Inspector Natalie Charlesworth said: “The community will be understandably horrified to hear of a teenager being attacked in such a way, and we are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area and saw the incident, or anyone making off from the location. 
 
“We believe that the victim was targeted near to the entrance of Belle Vale Park, and we are determined to find those responsible. 
 
“Your witness account, CCTV, dashcam or other footage could be vital in finding those responsible so please come forward. Knife crime causes devastation and we will do all we can to target those who bring such weapons onto the streets.
 
Local Policing Chief Inspector Steve Reilly said: “Dispersal Zones are a valuable tool which allows us to disperse groups of youths from an area to prevent further incidents. They are not to hassle people carrying out their daily business, but as a specific tactic to deal with ongoing issues, and we make no apologies for using them following serious incidents such as this.
 
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to encourage parents and guardians to know where your children are at night, and to discourage them from gathering in large numbers on the streets, as this can cause intimidation and distress to people in the area.
 
“We are working closely with our partners in the community and the local authority to identify and resolve issues of crime and anti-social behaviour in the Belle Vale area, and to provide diversionary activities such as through the Netherley Youth and Community Initiative. Incidents such as this only strengthen our resolve to tackle the root causes, risks and harm caused by knife crime and anti-social behaviour.
 
“I’d also encourage residents and business owners in the area to sign up to the Nextdoor app, which is a fantastic new way for our officers and PCSOs to communicate with the communities they serve, from crime alerts, prevention advice and events.”
 
Anyone with information on the assault is urged to contact us via @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with reference 24001042786.