Community day of action targets crime in Boundary Road area of St Helens

Officers teamed up with community partners and carried out a day of action in the Boundary Road area of St Helens today, Wednesday 27 March, as part of the force’s commitment to reducing crime and reassuring residents.

The day began at 11:00 a.m., when officers and PCSOs from the St Helens Neighbourhood Policing Team were joined at the Morrisons car park by colleagues from other specialist departments, along with staff and outreach workers from other organisations including Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, St John Ambulance, St Helens Borough Council, Alley Angels, Vibe and local housing associations.

Police offered crime prevention advice and bike marking while firefighters offered fire prevention advice. Community partners were also on hand with guidance, support and problem-solving for residents.

While officers patrolled the area, focussing on proactively targeting criminals and carrying out an open land search at Linear Park, the volunteer community group Alley Angels swept in to inspect and clear local alleyways, making them clean and safe. Merseyside Police is working in partnership with the group, whose mission is to transform alleyways and make them a safer space for residents.

During the day, knives and syringes were recovered during the alleyway clean-up and land search, with 18 bags of litter being filled by the Alley Angels volunteers. Many residents in the West Park Ward have also agreed to join the local West Park Litter Network, which can be found via www.litternetworks.org

Inspector Stacey Pope of the Neighbourhood Policing Team at St Helens said: “A day of action like this demonstrates the commitment of Merseyside Police and community partners in St Helens to tackle issues that matter most to residents and keep our streets safe.

“Officers spoke to locals about community issues that they might not have otherwise told us about and provided reassurance about our ongoing efforts to target criminality and anti-social behaviour.

“We are pleased to have been able to provide funding for the alleyway clean-up initiative via Operation Target, Merseyside’s force-wide operation to tackle serious and violent crime. The force’s serious violence prevention fund is used to provide resources for tackling violence and long-term problem-solving for violence prevention.

“This is all part of the work we do every day of the year, and we hope that the prevention initiatives and proactive policing activity reassure our communities that we are doing all we can to tackle the causes of crime and anti-social behaviour and protect vulnerable people from being exploited by criminals.”

James Coates from Alley Angels, West Park Litter Network & Keep Britain Tidy said: “In 2023, Litter Networks collected a grand total of 1,256 bags across the Mersey Region which we hope to exceed in 2024 with everyone who lives, works, or visits St Helens taking part to help create a clean, safe, and vibrant place for all. Our current proactive focus will be in the West Park Ward.

“We offer free litter picking equipment for residents who want to take part in group picks or solo picks where you carry out a litter patrol on your own street. We just ask that you post your litter picking adventures onto the West Park Litter Network Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/westparklitter/ so that we can support your efforts and add your haul to our running bag total."

Councillor Mancyia Uddin, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Chair of the Safer St Helens Executive, said: “While our ASB Outreach Team is always present in the community we really look forward to events like this where we can reach out and speak to residents directly with the support of our partners.

“The team has been promoting activities for young people like Vibe and our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, providing crime prevention advice to households and speaking further with residents to find out what matters most to them in their community.”

Ian Thewlis, Local Team Leader for the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) charity, said: “The RRT is proud to play our part in this Day of Action – an event which represents an important moment to bring the community together to help turn the page from the harm created by anti-social activity in the area, while helping local families.

“At The Rapid Relief Team, a charity made up of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, we are committed to helping the local communities where our members live and work. This includes working with emergency services and community groups across St Helens and the wider region to support their vital work.

“In partnership with Merseyside Police, Rapid Relief Team volunteers were delighted to provide free and nutritious food and refreshments to all those who participated in the event.”

The support of communities is vital in helping Merseyside Police to pursue offenders, prevent crime and protect people. If you have information about crime or anti-social behaviour occurring anywhere in Merseyside, please report it 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 pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: crimestoppers-uk.org