Operation Target

Targeting Serious Violent Crime

Operation Target is a major policing operation, which aims to tackle serious and violent crime, putting the people responsible behind bars.

As well as gun and knife crime, the operation will also focus on serious assaults, armed robberies and murder investigations and will look at wider issues such as violence in night time economy areas, county lines and drug use.

In May it was announced that Merseyside Police would receive £4.2m from the Home Office’s £100m Serious Violence fund, which will allow us to :-

• Increase the number of high-visibility patrols we carry out
• Purchase additional equipment such as hand-held metal detectors and metal detecting gloves
• Increase our disruption activity including stop searches, roadside checks, open land searches and test purchasing to develop our intelligence around offenders
• Trial the placement of having dedicated Intelligence Development Officers based at A&E departments, who can meet with victims and their families as an intelligence gathering exercise

We will also carry out work to develop further intelligence around types of crimes and key areas and tactics in order to directly target those involved in serious violence.

We will be working in close partnership with local authorities, the Youth Offending Service and health and social care professionals to share information and good practice. Early intervention work will also continue in schools, youth groups and communities.

Chief Superintendent Matt Boyle said, “We know what concerns the people of Merseyside and although resources have been put into tackling these issues in the past this additional funding from the Home Office means our response will now be bigger and better.

“We know issues such as knife and gun crime really impact our communities and we are committed to tackling these issues head on and really making a difference.

“Some of this work will take place behind the scenes but I hope that the public will recognise our continued commitment to making Merseyside an even safer place to live, work and visit. I also hope that it will give confidence to people and reassure them that we will continue to take positive action to protect all victims of serious crime and bring criminals to justice.”

What we need you to do

If you have any information that will help us directly target those involved in serious crime then TELL US via our website or call 101. You can also contact us on social media @MerPolCC or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

In an emergency, always call 999.