Hotspot patrols lead to significant drop in Serious Violence and Antisocial Behaviour

High visibility hotspot patrols have led to a significant decrease in serious violence and antisocial behaviour across Merseyside, police figures show.

Merseyside Police has, today, Monday 15 July, announced the results for the first quarter of 2024 (April to June) for hotspot policing, which is live across the region to target serious violence and antisocial behaviour.

Serious violence has fallen by 47.9% in hotspot areas with 68 fewer offences recorded against the same period the year before. Antisocial behaviour has fallen by 18.8% with 123 fewer incidents recorded. All crime in hotspot areas is down by 15.4%.

Hotspot policing involves uniformed officers and PCSOs being deployed on regular, high visibility foot patrols within very specific geographical areas where there is an increased probability of serious violence and antisocial behaviour occurring. This targeted activity and high visible presence aims to deter offenders and provide reassurance to the local community.

During patrols, officers are also identifying problem solving opportunities and collecting vital intelligence to help them understand crime and how to improve the day-to-day safety of those that live, study and work in the area.

So far this financial year, officers have completed more than 2,000 foot patrol visits to hotspot areas, thanks to funding from the Home Office.  

Superintendent Phil Mullally, lead for Serious Violence and Knife Crime said: “These positive results from the first three months of hotspot patrols in 2024 are encouraging and show our ongoing commitment to preventing serious violence.

“We know hotspot patrols have proven to be an effective way of driving down crime. Last year, we saw a 29% reduction in serious violent crime with 143 fewer victims in the areas we targeted.

“Feedback from residents and local businesses within the hotspot areas has been very positive – we know people want to see more officers in their neighbourhood. Through hotspot patrols, we will maintain a highly visible presence in the areas where it is needed most to deter criminality.”

Local Policing Inspector Andy Robinson, lead for Antisocial Behaviour, said: “These reductions aren’t just numbers – they really mean something for people’s lives.

“That difference could be an elderly person feeling confident enough to go and wait at a bus stop for a medical appointment; a shift worker finally getting some uninterrupted sleep, or a mum feeling comfortable taking her toddler to the park by herself for the first time.

“Hotspot policing is confirmed to run until March 2025, so we want to keep up this momentum and continue to drive down antisocial behaviour, which we know can have a negative impact on communities.”

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “These figures are hugely encouraging and a great testament to the work our local police teams are doing in these hotspot areas. But we won’t stop here – tackling serious violence and antisocial behaviour remains a priority for our communities, so that means it is a priority for me, for Merseyside Police and for our partner organisations. 

“In February, we launched Merseyside’s Serious Violence Duty Strategy, which in collaboration with our partners, uses a public health approach to drive whole-system change, addressing the root causes of serious violence so we can better prevent it.

“We know ASB can also have a hugely damaging effect on the people who witness and experience it. If that behaviour becomes persistent then the consequences can become devastating for communities and the people who live there. That’s why it’s a real focus and by having a visible police force, putting officers and PCSOs into these hotspot areas, we are able to provide greater community reassurance as well as that deterrent.

“To support this proactive police tactic, I also recently launched the Youth Empowerment Scheme with Merseyside’s Violence Reduction Partnership to give community groups, charities and third sectors groups in the areas of Merseyside which have seen the highest levels of violence and the biggest cuts to youth services, a chance to bid for a share of £500,000 to run positive projects and programmes over the next year. We had a huge number of bids, and we will be making an announcement shortly about the projects we will be funding to give young people the opportunity to gain valuable skills and qualifications, build confidence and make positive decisions for the future.

“I look forward to seeing how these programmes, coupled with the ongoing commitment of our local police teams to prevent and reduce serious violence and ASB, will help to create even safer, happier communities across Merseyside.”

Anyone with information about crime or antisocial behaviour in Merseyside to report via the social media desk on X @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’, or by reporting on the Merseyside Police website at: www.merseyside.police.uk. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org/.