This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of Merseyside Police activity in Wirral during the previous seven days.
Continued appeal for information following senseless attack on COVID testing bus
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information after criminal damage was caused to a COVID-19 mobile testing bus in Prenton, Wirral on Thursday, 13 May.
At around 2.05pm, reports were received that a gang of youths had smashed the windows of the Wirral council-owned bus, which had been delivering home Covid tests.
The bus was on Beechwood Drive in Prenton when the incident occurred. Three youths on a white, black and scooter, believed to be aged between 14 and 18, and wearing dark clothing and balaclavas are believed to have used a golf club to smash a number of windows.
Police target irresponsible drivers at Bromborough
On Sunday 16 May, Police reported that during the weekend Officers were responding to reports of vehicles being driven anti-socially in the Bromborough Croft area.
Police intercepted a number of suspect vehicles and continued to target offenders throughout the following days. Offenders caught driving in an anti-social manner will be dealt with and vehicles seized.
Man arrested for drug driving at Heswall
On Sunday 16 May, police reported that during the previous evening that Officers stop-checked a vehicle in Heswall.
Following a search of the vehicle the male driver was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Drug and Drug Driving. A police statement said, “Driving while under the influence of drink or drugs can have catastrophic consequences. We will continue to police our roads and intercept offenders.”
Police dog detains shop burglar
On Sunday 16 May, a Police Dog detained a 36-year-old man who had broken into a shop in Borough Pavement, Birkenhead at night.
The man had stolen a cash box containing cash which was recovered. A police spokesperson said, “Thanks to our dog patrol for their prompt response.” The man was kept in custody and appeared at Court on the morning of Monday 17 May, charged with Burglary.
Merseyside PCC urges hate crime victims to speak out as she marks IDAHOBIT
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell has urged people to speak out against hate crime as she marks International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT).
IDAHOBIT is held around the world on May 17 to commemorate the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation finally removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.
Emily joined officers and staff from Merseyside Police as they raise the rainbow flag, sometimes known as the ‘freedom flag’, to mark the awareness day. The flag has been a symbol of gay and lesbian pride since the 1970s and it has been flown over force headquarters in Canning Place for the past 12 years.
Global Road Safety Week – 17 – 23 May 2021
Merseyside Police is reminding drivers to focus on their speed in order to save lives as part of Global Road Safety Week.
The force’s Roads Policing Unit will be carrying out a number of operations and activities across the region to spread the message to all road users: Slow down and save lives.
During the week-long operation, officers will be reminding drivers to drive within speed limits to save lives and protect all who use them, especially the most vulnerable, including pedestrians, cyclists, children and older people. Local Policing officers will also be visiting schools to talk to children about the importance of road safety.
No licence, no insurance, car seized!
Officers from Wirral Targeted Team have seized this vehicle in Birkenhead whilst conducting a roads policing enforcement morning on Monday 17 May. The driver did not hold a driving licence and had no insurance!
Officers’ presentation to school kids
Local officers have attended St. Peter’s Primary School in Nocturum on Monday 17 May and spoke to year six pupils about online safety including cybercrime and cyberbullying. Officers also discussed knife crime, joint enterprise, gangs and other relevant topics. #StaySafeOnline
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Tap or click to follow birkenhead.news on Twitter Police Commissioner welcomes Labour Party Green Paper on ending violence against women and girls
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner has welcomed a detailed Labour Party Green Paper which sets out plans to end the epidemic of violence against women and girls.
Emily Spurrell has welcomed the Party’s proposals which would toughen existing sentences for perpetrators of rape and stalking, create new specific offences for street sexual harassment and the practice of landlords asking for sex in lieu of rent, as well as introducing bold measures to reverse record low conviction rates for rape.
The wide-ranging, cross-departmental approach sets out a long-term response to tackling the misogyny that underpins the abuse women and girls face at home, in the street, at school, college and university, in the workplace, and online.
Stolen motorbike recovered
This motorcycle was stolen from outside Poundstretcher in Birkenhead earlier this month. On Monday 17 May, it was located following a pursuit in Birkenhead Park. Police arrested a 16 and 20-year-old on suspicion of theft and driving offences.
£1.2m funding lifeline for survivors of domestic abuse & sexual violence announced by Merseyside’s Police Commissioner
Merseyside’s new Police Commissioner has marked her first week in office by announcing a huge cash boost of £1.2m to expand services offering specialist support to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence today.
Emily Spurrell, who took office as the region’s Police Commissioner on Thursday 13 May, confirmed £1,238,281 had been secured to expand the region’s vital Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates (IDVAs) and the Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) services.
The new funding, which will run until March 2023, will pay for an extra 13 IDVAs to provide essential practical and emotional support and advocacy for victims of domestic abuse, and three extra ISVAs who provide similar support for survivors of sexual violence.
Patrols continue in the borough’s parks
Operation ParkSafe – A police spokesperson said, “Yesterday we were out on patrol on Quad bikes Bidston Hill area, Woodchurch and the cycle route near to Bidston recycling centre. We have also searched the area and recovered some items that could be used as weapons and suspected stolen bike parts. Our visibility and presence continues in our Wirral Parks – we will continue to update you with our activity. Say hello if you see us out and about.“
CCTV appeal after taxi driver assaulted in Wirral
Merseyside Police has issued CCTV images of man they would like to speak to after a taxi driver was assaulted and had his vehicle damaged in Wirral.
The driver had been reversing his silver Ford Mondeo out at the junction of Ilford Avenue/Poulton Road in Wallasey at around 6.25pm on Sunday 9 May when he was verbally abused by a man. The man then assaulted the driver by punching him to the face and hitting him over the head before causing damage to the car.
Police officers prepare for ‘Light the Lakes’ charity climb in memory of PC Neil Doyle and PC Dave Phillips
On 18 May, three police officers took on a daylight recce of the ‘Light the Lakes’ climb ahead of the official challenge in June.
Light the Lakes is an event in aid of Care of Police Survivors (COPS) which is a charity that supports the families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty. They provide practical and emotional support ensuring survivors have the help they need to cope with such a tragedy, ensuring they remain part of the police family.
The Doyle-Phillips challenge is conducted in memory of two fallen officers from Merseyside Police:
Merseyside Police constable Neil Doyle died during a night out in Liverpool city centre in 2014. He was attacked by two men, Andrew Taylor, of Cherry Tree Road, Huyton, and Timmy Donovan, of Walsingham Road, Childwall. The men were jailed for 14 years after being convicted of his manslaughter.
Merseyside Police constable Dave Phillips was killed in a hit-and-run incident in the early hours of October 5 2017 in Wallasey. The married dad-of-two was struck by a stolen red Mitsubishi pick-up that he was trying to stop. The popular officer had served with Merseyside Police on Wirral for almost a decade. Clayton Williams was jailed for 20 years for the manslaughter of Dave Phillips.
Closure Order issued at Birkenhead house following anti-social behaviour
Working alongside Wirral Council ASB team, Wirral Community Policing Team has secured a Closure Order in relation to a house in Birkenhead.
The order is for 54 Harrowby Road, Birkenhead. It was issued at Wirral Magistrates Court today (Thursday 20 May) following numerous incidents of suspected anti-social behaviour.
A full closure order was granted for a period of three months under section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The tenancy has also been terminated by the housing association so the occupier will not return and the property will remain closed until 20 August.
Joint operations success at tunnels and docks
On Thursday 20 May, Wirral Targeted Team and Tunnel Police were educating and carrying out enforcement at the Wallasey Kingsway and Birkenhead Queensway Tunnels. Numerous Drug Drivers were arrested.
On the same day Targeted Team Officers carried out an operation in partnership with the National Crime Agency, UK Border Force and RSPCA at Birkenhead Ferry Terminal, resulting in the seizure of 2 vehicles, 3 people arrested, a quantity of drugs seized and several dogs seized by the RSPCA.
Police appeal after 90-year-old Bromborough man scammed for £4000 by gang of rogue traders
Merseyside Police officers are investigating following a rogue trader incident in Bromborough earlier this month.
On Tuesday 18 May, officers carrying out enquiries in the Bromborough area spoke with a 90-year-old man, who reported that he had been targeted by rogue traders earlier in the month, an incident which was not reported to police at the time.
Brackenwood baby boy laid to rest
Merseyside Police has confirmed that a baby boy whose body was found on a golf course in Wirral in January was laid to rest on Friday 21 May.
The boy will be buried following a private service at Landican cemetery in Wirral. As the service and burial is private, members of the public are asked not to attend.
Next of kin appeal: Peter Williams
Wirral Coroner’s Officer would like totrace the next of kin for Moreton man Peter Williams, who recently passed away. Mr Williams, 76, sadly died earlier this month at his home in Drake Road. There are no suspicious circumstances.
Please contact the office via (0151) 233 5770 or email HMCoroner@liverpool.gov.uk 
if you have any information.
Merseyside Police Cadet recruitment drive extended
The recruitment window to become a Police Cadet has been extended until Friday 28 May.
Merseyside Police is on the hunt for new Police Cadets to join the force. The cadet programme is 18 months long and looks for 16 to 18-year-olds to sign up on a volunteer basis. The scheme will provide you with a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience first-hand what working alongside police officers is really like.
Sgt Keith Burke said, “This is an amazing opportunity for any young person living in Merseyside that has ever considered working for the force one day.”
For regular crime and police related updates, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/crimewatchwirral
Images and information used with kind permission from Wirral Police/Merseyside Police.
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