Wirral's independent local news website
This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of police activity in and around Wirral during the previous seven days.
Two people were arrested after a cannabis farm was recovered in Wirral on Wednesday 1 February.
At around 4pm, a report was received that cannabis plants were being cultivated at an address in Storeton.
Officers attended a short time later and discovered around 80 cannabis plants growing in the shed and in the property.
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Merseyside Police officers have identified some of the young persons involved in the anti-social behaviour, including breaking the windows of a police car, at Croft Retail Park, Bromborough.
Officers have visited the youths and their parents, informing them of the consequences if the behaviour continues. Schools have also been made aware.
A police spokesperson said, “Other youths and parents will be getting a knock on the door in the days to come.”
This black McClaren 570s was seized by officers from Team Wallasey on 29 January after being spotted driving in anti-social manner in New Brighton. The 19 year old driver was reported for the offence of driving without insurance.
A Wirral drug dealer who used the alias ‘ladbrookes’ has been jailed for more than nine years for his role in supplying drugs via Encrochat.
Kurtis Bolton, 26 years, of Bidston, was sentenced to nine years and eight months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine) and conspiracy to convert criminal property, namely cash, at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 30 January.
Bolton was arrested at his home on 8 December, which was part of the Merseyside Police response to Operation Venetic: an international operation targeting criminals who used a mobile encryption service, commonly referred to as Encrochat, in an attempt to evade detection.
Officers from Team Wallasey visited St Joseph’s School in Upton this week to give pupils a talk on the role of Police Officers and Emergency Services.
A police spokesperson said, “The pupils had many questions and were delightful to engage with – thanks for having us St Joseph’s Primary School.”
A 19-year-old man from Noctorum was arrested on 2 February by officers from Operation Remove.
The man was arrested for the offences of: Concerned in the Supply of Cannabis, Concerned in the Supply of Heroin, Conspire to Commit a Burglary Dwelling with Intent to Steal & Possession of Controlled Drug Class B.
Smith was later charged with the above offences and remanded in custody to appear at Wirral Adult Remand Court on Friday 3 February.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner has responded to a new report produced by the National Police Chief’s Council and the College of Policing in relation to the Hillsborough Families Report.
The report has been published in response to “The patronising disposition of unaccountable power”: A report to ensure the pain and suffering of the Hillsborough families is not repeated’ written by The Right Reverend James Jones KBE which was published in November 2017.
Within the 2017 report, known as the Hillsborough Families Report, Bishop James made a number of learning points for policing which are addressed within the national police response.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner is looking for compassionate, community-spirited people to volunteer for her Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) scheme.
Emily Spurrell is looking to recruit more volunteers to make a contribution to policing by joining this important scheme which sees members of the public check on the welfare and wellbeing of people detained in police custody.
Independent Custody Visitors or ICVs have an independent role, checking that people held in police cells and who are not yet convicted of any offence, are being properly treated.
Margaret Greenwood MP has spoken out in parliament about the impact that government cuts to policing since 2010 are having on local communities.
Speaking in a debate which was called by Labour, she highlighted figures from the House of Commons Library which show that, in 2010, there were more than 4,500 police officers on Merseyside. By 2019, there were fewer than 3,400 – over 1,100 less than in 2010. Numbers have started to increase again, but, as of last year, Merseyside was still short of around 450 officers compared with 2010.
The Wirral West MP also raised concerns about the impact that crime is having on children and young people. She spoke about young people from the Woodchurch estate who recently took part in a Theatre for Democracy event organised by the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). One of the issues raised by the young people was that of crime, and a statement which was provided by the group from LIPA who worked with the children spoke of how some of them, aged 10 to 14, were feeling scared and helpless.
Some images and information used with kind permission from Wirral Police/Merseyside Police.
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