Eight charged after 68 arrested during Operation Vanguard

A total of eight people have been charged and 68 arrests were made in connection with a raft of serious offences during a large-scale policing operation in Anfield, codenamed Operation Vanguard.

Around 300 police officers flooded the area conducting warrants, roadside checks, land searches and more in a sustained and relentless offensive against criminals operating in our local communities. 

We arrested people on suspicion of offences including:

• Sexual assault
• Domestic abuse
• Possession of indecent images
• Theft
• Possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs
• Importation of drugs
• Assault
• Breach of restraining order (domestic abuse)
• Drug driving
• Disqualified driving
• Possession of counterfeit cash
• Possession of counterfeit goods
• Drunk and disorderly
• Criminal damage
• Theft from a motor vehicle

We seized and recovered:

• Class A and B drugs
• An imitation firearm
• Three machetes
• Thousands of pounds of cash
• Stolen bank cards and property
• Counterfeit money
• Counterfeit cigarettes
• E-bikes
• 18 vehicles
• Designer clothes and watches
• A cannabis farm was dismantled

Of the 68 arrested, the following have so far been charged:

• Josh Parker, 21 years, of Abbey Road, Liverpool - charged with two offences of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) and two offences of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine)
• Francis Lowe, 27 years, of Breckside Park, Liverpool – charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs (cocaine and cannabis), conspiracy to handle stolen goods and possession of counterfeit currency
• Grace Gibson, 22 years, of Gwendoline Street, Liverpool  – charged with two offences of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) and being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs
• Lewis Carr, 25 years, of Gwendoline Street, Liverpool - charged with two offences of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs (crack cocaine) and being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs (cannabis)
• Carla Tobin, 55 years, of Graylands Road, Liverpool – charged with driving while disqualified
• Alan Speed, 56 years, of Gloucester Road, Liverpool – charged with theft shop
• Angela Boreman, 57 years, of Romley Street, Liverpool – charged with theft shop
• David McCouid, 41 years, of no fixed address – charged with theft shop and assault

Chief Constable Rob Carden said: “The huge scale and impact of yesterday’s operation should have left criminals in absolutely no doubt – Merseyside Police has a complete contempt for criminality and if you are involved we will turn up at your door, we will stop you in your car, and we will arrest you.

“Those detained during the operation are suspected of committing crimes that cause a huge amount of pain and suffering to people in our communities.

“Sex offences, domestic abuse and assaults cause serious physical and lasting emotional harm to victims. Weapons and those prepared to carry and use them bring fear to our streets, and criminals involved in supplying drugs ruin the lives of vulnerable people. They think nothing of threatening and intimidating people in our communities to continue their illicit trade, and yesterday’s action was all about reminding offenders that they are simply not welcome here.

“People who get behind the wheel of a car high on drugs risk the safety of all other road users as well as themselves. And if anyone thinks they can profit from criminality, they can think again, because we will take any cash, clothes, jewellery and watches we suspect have been paid for with ill-gotten gains. Crime most definitely does not pay.

“Operation Vanguard should also send a strong message to law-abiding residents in Anfield and across Merseyside that we are on your side and we will deploy all the officers and the tools at our disposal to make your streets safer.

“As well as enforcement activity, we were backed by our partners throughout the day with the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, British Transport Police,  Liverpool Council and others. Together we are determined to do what we can to keep the people of Merseyside safe, to safeguard vulnerable people and put offenders before the courts.”

Chief Constable Carden added: “Our officers and partners received many messages of support as they undertook this operation and the response from the public on the ground has been hugely encouraging.

“People in Merseyside can expect to see a series of more focussed operations in the near future, as well as more Operation Vanguards elsewhere in Merseyside. Our work to bring criminals to justice and protect our communities continues 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“My ask of the public is that you continue to support our efforts by telling us where offenders are operating – you might have a neighbour experiencing domestic abuse, you might have seen people acting suspiciously and potentially linked to burglary, or you could have heard that someone is storing drugs or weapons.

“Whatever it is, we want to know so tell us what you know and we will do the rest.”

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Stronger Communities, Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, said: “People should be able to feel safe in their communities and we very much welcome this targeted action to take criminals off the streets.

“Our strong partnership with Merseyside Police through projects such as EVOLVE are making a real difference through the sharing of intelligence, supporting victims and securing convictions to drive down crime rates.”

If you have any information which could help us to prevent criminality in your area, let us know so that we can take action and ensure our communities can enjoy their local areas safely.                

If you have any information please call 101 or contact us on social media @MerPolCC. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ 

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously In an emergency always call 999.