Arrests and seizures in Wirral as part of ongoing Section 60 Orders

A total of 38 stop searches have been carried out, a number of people have been arrested and drugs and weapons seized as part of two Section 60 Orders that are currently in place in Wirral.

Section 60 Orders were implemented in Wirral in response to a stabbing in Seacombe on Wednesday 10 January after a man aged in his 20s was attacked by a group of males armed with a machete on Oakdale Avenue. The victim remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The Orders, under S60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, were first put in place from 7pm on Thursday 11 January, will remain in place until 7pm this evening, Saturday 13 January.

During this time, officers have been given enhanced stop and search powers to stop individuals in the area with the aim of reducing serious violence in the areas.

Officers have been carrying out high visibility patrols in the Wirral areas to reassure the local communities.

Some of the action taken includes: 

• At around 9.20pm on Friday 12 January, officers searched a man aged in his 40s on Brighton Street and found he was in possession of Class B drugs. Jon Hanson, 40, of no fixed abode, has been charged with possession of a controlled Class B drug (cannabis) and he has been bailed to appear at Wirral Magistrates Court on Tuesday 6 February.
• At around 8.20pm on Friday 12 January, a male was stopped on Wheatland Lane and was found to be in possession of a suspected knife. Barry Rutter, 30, of Berwick Way, in Seacombe, has been charged with possessing a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place. He has been bailed to appear at Wirral Magistrates Court on Monday 5 February.

Chief Inspector Charlotte Irlam said: “We hope that the continued use of these Section 60 Orders, and all of the additional resources involved, is providing local residents with reassurance that Merseyside Police will do everything in our power to disrupt those who are intent on causing violence in our communities.

“We have made number of arrests and taken suspected drugs and weapons off our streets far since the Section 60 Orders were implemented and this positive action will continue today.

“This Order is one of a number of measures being taken to disrupt those who are prepared to use any type of weapon in our communities.

“Extra officers will be in the areas covered by the orders to search any individuals or groups causing such issues, and to provide reassurance to law-abiding people who make up the overwhelming majority of people living there.

“We do not take this action to bother people going about their daily business or to prevent people from meeting with friends. 

“Quite the opposite. We do it to reduce incidents like this so that people can feel able to go about their business free from the threat of becoming a victim or witness to this violence.

“Information from the public is vital if we are to continue to break down the organised crime groups who bring misery to our streets and I would appeal to anyone who has information to come forward.

"If you don’t want to contact the police directly, then I would encourage you to use the totally independent and completely anonymous Crimestoppers service.”

You can pass any information by calling 101, via our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook with reference number 23001269221.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.

The first Section 60 Order covers the Seacombe and Poulton area bounded in the map and includes Borough Road; Church Road; Birkenhead Road; Dock Road; Geneva Road; Lyncroft Road; Hillcroft Road and Poulton Road.

The second Section 60 covers the Beechwood Estate and the North End of Birkenhead, bounded by the M53; Hoylake Road; Beaufort Road; Upton Road; Park Road North and Fender Lane.

The Orders, under S60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, give officers enhanced stop and search powers to stop individuals in the areas (pictured) and is designed to minimise serious violence.

Merseyside Police is working closely with partners on the Home Office-backed Clear, Hold, Build strategy, known locally as EVOLVE, which has been introduced in areas blighted by organised crime to remove criminal gangs, prevent new ones moving into the void and then build the resilience of local communities against criminal activity.

EVOLVE Wirral was introduced following the murder of 26-year-old Elle Edwards on Christmas Eve in 2022, launching to the community with the Build phase in May 2023. The Beechwood is one of three areas in Wirral that are part of Operation Evolve’s strategy.

You can pass any information on the stabbing in Seacombe by calling 101, via our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook with reference number 24000051538.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.