EVOLVE – Clear, Hold, Build
Merseyside Police is rolling out a multi-agency partnership tactic called Clear, Hold, Build, which has been designed and part-funded by the Home Office to rescue and regenerate areas most affected by serious and organised crime.
The three-phase initiative, known locally as EVOLVE, uses a combination of targeted high-visibility police operations and covert policing tactics alongside activity from partners and input from residents to protect our communities and prevent organised crime groups from operating.
What?
The strategy sees police ruthlessly pursue gang members using all available powers and tactics to clear an area; continue activity to hold the location, so another gang can’t take control in the vacuum; and then work with residents and partners to build the community into a more prosperous area where people would love to live, work and visit and one less susceptible to being exploited by organised crime groups.
Where?
EVOLVE projects are taking place in areas of Wirral, Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton.
When?
This is a long-term project and work will be continuous.
Why?
Implementing this holistic approach will make it more difficult for organised crime groups to operate. It will disrupt their activity and their incomes, and will help to protect those living, visiting and working in Merseyside. It will also assist those vulnerable to manipulation by gangs. By working together and listening to residents’ needs, EVOLVE will regenerate areas blighted by serious and organised crime and will allow residents to reclaim their communities, building long-term resilience against organised crime groups and help prevent future threats to safety.
How?
Partners will work closely to share information and identify hot spots that need regeneration as well as targeted activity to remove and disrupt organised crime groups. In addition, partners will provide advice and services, in particular to those in need of assistance who may struggle to access help. Areas that will be focussed on include: the living, working and recreational environment for residents, opportunities for young people, help with employment, assistance to access funding, health issues, crime prevention and security advice.
Events will also be held with community groups that will provide opportunities for input from residents to determine how partners can best help and support communities.
Who?
Partners involved in EVOLVE include Merseyside Police, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, local councils, Merseyside Fire and Rescue, housing associations, health services, schools, colleges, local businesses, community groups and residents.
For more information: follow @MerseyPolice on Twitter and Facebook.
Anyone with any information about crime in their area is asked to contact Merseyside Police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always call 999.
The following guidance is provided to assist with the application process for the Participatory Budgeting event on Saturday 24 June 2023 at Croxteth Hall Park, Croxteth Hall Lane, L11 1EH.
Please note a representative or participant of your group must be prepared to tell the community what their project is all about in a 2-minute pitch at the Participatory Budgeting event – as detailed above.
The funding for this event is provided by Community Cashback, Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Riverside Housing, The Steve Morgan Foundation and Project Medusa which aims to:
‘Create safer and stronger Communities’
‘Where safer and stronger communities shape their future’
The cash is to support local groups to assist in reducing and preventing crime by delivering projects in their area that also meet the priorities of the community, this can be in a variety of ways including but not limited to;
- Improving Health and Wellbeing
- Improving the Environment
- Youth Engagement/Intervention
- Community Cohesion
Merseyside Police are working with local partners including Riverside Housing, LIVV housing, The Steve Morgan Foundation, Merseycare, Liverpool City council and Knowsley Council and One Knowsley to bring this funding opportunity closer to communities and work Better Together.
Community groups operating in the Evolve Liverpool Knowsley area (as designated by the attached map) or intending to utilise this funding to work in these areas are invited to this event to bid for funding up to £5,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- The maximum bid allowed is £5,000
- Multiple bids from a single organisation/group/applicant will not be accepted
- Those bidding must be from a community group operating and intending to use funding within Evolve area (see map provided)
- Constituted and Non-constituted groups can apply
- Minimum voting age is 11
- The voting process is to be done via the ‘Smiley Face voting slip’
- Those attending must vote on all bids presented on the day of the event
- A representative from the community group must provide a 2-minute pitch on the day of the Participatory Budget event outlining their proposed bid.
- If electronic media is to be used to support 2-minute pitch these will be included in the 2-minute allocated time slot. PDF versions must be shared with the group organisers 48 hours prior to the event.
- The event will be ticketed. Each applicant will receive an equal number of tickets. Each ticket is your vote on the ‘smiley face voting slip’.
- Basic Vetting will be completed by Merseyside prior to the event.
If you would like to complete an application form, please email [email protected] requesting access to the electronic form.