This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of Merseyside Police activity in Wirral during the previous seven days.
Car failed to stop in New Ferry
During the evening of Saturday 27 February, Officers attempted to stop check a vehicle in New Ferry. It failed to stop and was subsequently pursued.
It was later located in Quarry Avenue, Bebington. The vehicle occupants were reported for offences and the vehicle has been seized.
Video shows dramatic car fire on M53
On the morning of Saturday 27 February, Charlotte Prior captured dramatic video footage of a car fire on the M53.
David Prior said that there were four people on the hard shoulder, but he wasn’t sure they were all occupants of the blazing car and may have been from a car that had stopped to help.
As the video shows, the car was fully ablaze, with a large plume of thick smoke billowing out of it.
The car’s driver was Anthony Jones, from Moreton. He was travelling to a pre-booked MOT appointment in New Ferry and he said, “It was my lovely car and it got me around! Luckily, I got out just in time!”
Complaints of drug dealing in Hoylake
Responding to complaints from the community of drug dealing at the rear of Hoylake Social Club, local policing team officers attended the location on the evening of Saturday 27 February.
As a result, two men were issued with fixed penalty notices for possession of a controlled drug. A third was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.
All were from the Hoylake area. All 3 will be reported for Breach of Covid regulations.
Opportunist thieves at Wirral Country Park and Newton
On Monday 1 March, Wirral Police reported that opportunist thieves had take items that were left on display from cars.
They remind drivers to keep vehicles locked and valuables placed out of sight or even better removed. Opportunist thieves are out and about in our area looking for vehicles left insecure or with valuables left clearly on display.
Most recently, this has happened in the Wirral Country Park and Newton area where a number of vehicles have been broken into and valuables left on display taken.
Cyclists rushed to hospital after being struck by car
Merseyside Police received reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and two cyclists on Campbeltown Road, Tranmere, at around 10.05am on Monday 1 March.
Police warn of fake COVID-19 vaccine texts
Wirral Police warned of criminals cold calling or sending fake texts supposedly from the NHS claiming your eligibility to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Links included lead to seemingly genuine-looking NHS scam websites that are used to obtain your personal and financial information “for verification”.
The police warned, “Remember: the vaccine is available free of charge and you will not be asked to provide your banking details such as your card details or your PIN to the NHS.
“If you receive a scam call/ text, know that it’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore requests for your information.
“Inform your friends and family about this scam especially those who are elderly or vulnerable and are expecting to receive information about receiving the vaccine.”
You can forward scam texts to 7726 to help mobile providers take action, if need be, to block malicious numbers
Wirral holidaymakers fined £10,000 for failing to quarantine
Merseyside Police has issued two fixed penalty notices for failing to comply with Covid regulations following international travel.
On Tuesday 23 February, it was reported that a man and woman from Wirral had failed to quarantine after returning home from Dubai, which is currently on the foreign travel red list.
Following a police investigation, on Friday, 26 February, they were each issued with a £10,000 fine, and transported to a designated quarantine hotel.
Chief Inspector Chris Barnes said: “Strict rules around international travel have been put in place by the government for a reason, and to disregard them in this way is selfish, inconsiderate, and potentially dangerous.
Section 60 feedback survey
Merseyside Police want your feedback! A few weeks ago, a section 60 stop search power in parts of Birkenhead, Rock Ferry and Tranmere was authorised.
The police don’t use this power often and when they do it’s important that they listen to your feedback.
Complete a few anonymous questions by following this link and they will take the feedback on board for future authorisations. https://crowd.in/wwvnmu
Three arrested at Liscard drugs bust
Merseyside Police arrested three males on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs on Tuesday 2 March.
The arrests come as part of a County Lines investigation with detectives from the force’s Project Medusa working with colleagues from West Mercia Police to investigate the supply of Class A drugs between Merseyside and Shrewsbury and Whitchurch.
A warrant was executed at a property in Liscard this morning and a quantity of suspected Class A drugs have been seized.
Burnt out moped removed
During a proactive patrol on Wednesday 3 March, Officers located a burnt out moped in the North End of Birkenhead.
It was later removed. If you see any vehicles that look out of place, burnt out or not, please report it to Wirral Police.
Birkenhead man jailed for violent disorder at Anfield
Merseyside Police has welcomed the sentencing of a man today, Wednesday 3 March, in connection with violent disorder in Anfield in July 2020.
Jake Hayes, 28, of Brook Street Birkenhead, was jailed for 20 months at Liverpool Crown Court, following an extensive investigation which has seen three other men jailed.
At around 11.25pm on Wednesday 22 July, disorder broke out between groups in the Walton Breck Road area after Liverpool FC’s trophy lifting ceremony, which included fighting and bottles being thrown. The groups dispersed a short time later and CCTV and witness enquiries were carried out.
Patrols at Beechwood
on Wednesday 3 March, dedicated Officers were patrolling the Beechwood estate day and night.
They said to residents, “If you have any concerns or information you think we should know then don’t hesitate to talk to us. The more information we are given the more we can do to prevent crime and pursue offenders.”
Community groups urged to share their views on support services for victims of crime
Community organisations that may support victims of crime in Merseyside are being urged to share their views of the support currently on offer to help improve services in the future.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, is currently running an eight-week Victim Experience consultation asking victims, community groups and support services to share their experiences of the support that is currently available across Merseyside in order to help shape and improve the services that are commissioned over the next four years.
Jane is responsible for commissioning many local support services for victims of crime and these are promoted and organised through the Victim Care Merseyside service. Over the last year, more than 6,000 victims have been supported by those services.
Man found stabbed in stomach at Birkenhead property
Emergency services were in attendance at Rodney Street, Birkenhead on Wednesday 3 March.
At around 4.30pm police received reports of a 26-year-old male with a stab wound to the stomach at a property on Rodney Street, Birkenhead.
The male has been taken to hospital to receive treatment for his injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.
M53 van driver issued TOR for mobile phone use
North West Motorway Police stopped a van driver on the M53 on Wednesday 3 March after he was sighted scrolling through his phone whilst driving.
The driver yold police that it was to get an address for his next job, and that he was about to come off at the next junction to put into his sat nav.
Officers enquired why he didn’t he do all of that when he was stopped and off the motorway and issued him with a Traffic Offence Report (TOR).
Two new PCSOs for Beechwood & New Ferry
On Wednesday 3 March, Wirral Police announced good news for residents and businesses in the New Ferry and Beechwood areas.
#teamBeb had 2 new PCSOs join the team which will Increase visibility on foot patrol in your street.
A statement on Facebook said, “They will be out and about patrolling these areas and look forward to meeting you.”
Renewed appeal for missing Birkenhead man, Uyapo Hayunga-Macha, also known as Theo
On Thursday 4 March, Merseyside Police renewed an appeal to find a 28-year old Wirral man who has been missing from home for three months. New photographs of the man have been released.
Uyapo Hayunga-Macha, also known as Theo, and who lives in Birkenhead, was last seen on Beckwith Street at 5am on Friday 4th December.
Extensive enquiries and searches have been carried out in the local area to find Theo but there have been no confirmed sightings since that date.
Birkenhead man arrested and suspected stolen moped seized
During the Operation Brookdale day of action on Thursday 4 March, throughout Wirral, officers arrested one man for breach of a criminal behaviour order, seized a suspected stolen moped, and have stopped 30 vehicles.
High visibility foot patrols were carried out and leaflets were dropped along with questionnaires to Park Road, Tranmere, Juliet Avenue Bebington and Mosslands Drive, Wallasey Village.
Five quad bikes were deployed to open areas in Victoria Park, Mersey Park, Higher Bebington Park and the Cinder Path, Birkenhead Park, Central Park Wallasey, The Dips New Brighton, Bidston Moss nature Trail, Flaybrick Cemetery and Bidston Hill, as well as the Beechwood Estate, New Brighton Promenade and the Tower Grounds.
M53 driver jumped red light
North West Motorway Police stopped a car on Thursday 4 March at junction 4 of the M53, having gone through a clear red traffic light.
Officers warned, “Don’t be the ‘amber gambler’, but then certainly don’t go through when not only have your lights changed to red, but the lights to your right where the police officer is going through had already changed to green, with traffic moving when you came through!”
Officers issued the driver with a TOR (Traffic offence report.)
MISSING: Police issue appeal to find missing Egremont man, Darren Hyde
Merseyside Police is appealing for help in finding a 54-year-old Wirral man who is missing from home.
Darren Hyde, who is from Egremont, was last seen in Ellesmere Port on Saturday 27th February.
He is described as a white male, 5ft 9in tall, of proportionate build, with short grey hair, blue eyes and facial stubble.
Birkenhead man jailed for six years for Class A drugs supply
Merseyside Police has welcomed the sentencing of a 34-year-old Wirral man for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Paul Clohessy, 34, from Birkenhead was jailed for six years at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 5 March for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Clohessy’s conviction follows three separate offences in the Birkenhead area.
Wirral Police warn of rogue traders targeting the elderly and vulnerable
Following a warning last week of rogue traders conning people out of large amounts of money for simple jobs, it came to light on Friday 5 March that the con-artists were still operating in the area.
In the Facebook group, CRIMEWATCH WIRRAL, an Upton resident said they had been operating in that area.
The rogue traders were offering services such as ‘steam cleaning and garden services’ over the last few days. They had been passing out convincing glossy leaflets with non-existent contact numbers.
A number of elderly residents charged amounts ranging from £380 to £900+. Damage has also been caused by these rogue traders.
All images and information used with kind permission from Wirral Police/Merseyside Police.