Inspector Mark Berry

Hi. I’m Mark Berry, one of two Local Community inspectors in Knowsley.  My areas are Huyton, Prescot, Whiston, Halewood & Cronton. So if you live in one of those, then this little bit about me and what I do is for you. It’s Neighbourhood Policing Week – which is where we try encourage our communities to get to know their local police better. I don’t really like talking about myself much, but how can we ask you to talk to us if we don’t talk to you? So I’ll give it a go.   

I joined Merseyside Police in 2005. Obviously, like most kids growing up, I wanted to be a professional sports player (specifically, rugby).  I also really wanted to help people though, and while watching a good game definitely makes people happy, I wanted to be more on the side of protecting people.    

Merseyside Police gave me the chance to do that in spades.  For a long time I was an Operational Firearms Commander responding to organised criminality and incidents that required an armed response, and when you’re doing that, the way you’re protecting the public is very clear. Actually though, in the wider policing family, there’s officers and staff out protecting people in lots of different ways – making a massive difference to people’s lives.  I’d loved working in firearms – but it was time for me to try making a different kind of difference.  That’s how, in April 2022, I became your local policing inspector.   

I know that a big part of Local Policing is about protecting the vulnerable people in our area – but recently someone asked me what that actually meant, and it’s such a big question that giving a short answer is difficult.  The most concise summary I can give is this: it’s looking after the people who either can’t, or are too afraid, to look out for themselves.  It’s akin to sticking up for a younger kid against the school bully and stepping in.  Except the school bully might be a dangerous loan shark, or an organised crime gang.  Unfortunately, sometimes the younger kid is literally just that – a young kid.  One that gets manipulated or intimidated into selling drugs for an OCG.  Or maybe it’s a young, single woman who’s got some debts, and she gets talked into holding weapons for a bit, just so she can meet her payments, and before she knows it her house – her whole life – isn't her own anymore.  Who’s going to step in and help? We are.   

I need to say though, because I’d be doing a huge disservice to Knowsley if I didn’t - we absolutely don’t intervene alone. We partner up with amazing local charities and organisations whose work is life-changing in those situations.  It’s something I particularly like about Local Policing – you're working together with the community to make things better – you're a part of something bigger.    

The most important people I work with – I have to say it because it’s true – are you, the people of Huyton, Prescot, Whiston, Halewood & Cronton.  Did you know that burglaries have decreased by 10.6% in Knowsley?  I credit that to you.  You’ve listened to our advice -  locking up, getting security lights, installing smart-doorbells – and forming the Home Watch groups that we work with.  You share information – share CCTV footage – you work with us.   

I’d really like that working together to go even further. We’re hosting regular local policing ‘surgeries’ where you can come along and meet your local police officers and staff; put names to faces, ask questions, get advice etc.  It would be fantastic if you could come along. If not, give our Knowsley Local Policing Facebook page a follow so you can see what’s going on locally and get advice for your area.   

Thanks for reading. Keep in touch and stay safe.