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An inspection of the North West Regional Response to Serious and Organised Crime
THE His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS) have been preparing a report that asks the questions that the public would ask and also publishes the answers in an accessible form. The findings of:- "PEEL 2022/23" have now been published. These findings will also be used by HMICFRS to make recommendations for improvement.
For the 1st time this year, the HMICFRS report focuses on the North West Region as a whole. The data taken from the APMIS on:- 4 January 2023 showed that within the North West Region, 938 Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) threats had been identified. This is the highest number of threats identified in any Region, and more than double the number in any other Region.
Within this report, the data showed the findings from all 6 Forces within the North West Region:- Cheshire Constabulary, Cumbria Constabulary, Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Constabulary, Merseyside Police and North Wales Police, together with their ROCU, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) the Region experiences high levels of SOC when compared to the other Regions of England and Wales. The report conclusions have been exemplary for Merseyside Police, as it was the only Force in the North West to activate a rating of:- 'outstanding' at tackling serious and organised crime, within our area. On hearing this news Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy has acknowledged the hard work of her Officers and staff within the Force and their fight against serious organised crime. She has also pledged to ensure that the Force’s relentless approach will continue in earnest. Chief Constable Kennedy, said:- “In 2022 5 families in Merseyside were plunged into the depths of despair and grief after offenders involved in serious organised crime killed members of their families with firearms on the streets of Merseyside. 2 of the individuals, Thomas Cashman and Connor Chapman, who were responsible for the murders of Olivia Pratt-Korbel and Elle Edwards, have been tried at court and are now serving:- 42 and 48 years respectively. Those sentences will have brought the families some sense of justice, but sadly they too are serving their own life sentences and nothing will take away the pain they have suffered and are still suffering. The murders last year showed why we are committed to a relentless approach to tackling serious organised crime. We know that despite strong enforcement and prevention activity, which has resulted in the severe disruption of organised crime gangs, there is still a minority of individuals who are prepared to use firearms on our streets and bring misery to our communities through the wholesale distribution of Class A and B drugs. These people are toxic in our communities and we will do everything we can to take them off the streets so the majority of people in our communities can enjoy their local facilities and spaces safely and without fear. Our Officers and staff are fully aware of the devastating impact serious organised crime, involving gun and drug offences, can have on families and communities and that is why Merseyside Police is relentless in its approach to tackling serious organised crime. Since 1 April-8 November this year, we have seen firearms discharges on Merseyside fall by 64.5%, which is down from:- 31 to 11, for the same period the previous year! The 'outstanding' grade given to the Force for the work it undertakes to tackle serious and organised crime is testimony to the work being done by people across the force every day and I am exceptionally proud of what they achieve every day. We know that enforcement activity alone won’t solve the problem and working with our partners we are educating our young people about the dangers and consequences of becoming involved in serious organised crime. Project Medusa, which is our response to County Lines, works together with more than 60 partners (including:- Everton in the Community; Liverpool Foundation; Catch 22; Cells Project; and Sports Traider, to name but a few), to provide safeguarding, support and interventions for vulnerable young people and adults, who have been exploited by County Lines Groups, or are vulnerable to exploitation. Since 1 April 2019 our County Lines team, working with partners, has Safeguarded 1451 children and vulnerable adults. Operation Stonehaven is also engaged in preventing people from being exploited through a number of educational programmes including the Trainee Detective Programme run in conjunction with EITC; the engagement of young people through drama with the Terriers and Eve’s Story. The report recognises that the force effectively uses analysis to understand and prioritise threats from organised criminals. And cites that the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) is pivotal in “directing the force’s resources in the fight against organised crime. The report also refers to the:- 'well established' partnership carried out by the force, with local authorities, the National Crime Agency and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (which has also been graded as Outstanding for its work on SOC) for both enforcement and prevention.” Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell responded:- “I welcome this very positive report by HMICFRS, recognising the outstanding approach Merseyside Police is taking to tackling serious organised crime. Serious and organised crime groups spread fear and intimidation within the communities they operate, bringing misery to the lives of innocent people and often using vulnerable young people to do their dirty work. Through initiatives like Op Evolve, Project Medusa and Operation Stonehaven, Merseyside Police is relentless in identifying, disrupting, and bringing offenders to justice, whilst supporting and safeguarding those most at risk of harm and exploitation. This is supported on a regional level by the NWROCU and I’m pleased they too have been graded as outstanding in this work. This report, coupled with a recent reduction in firearms discharges, is a testament to the commitment, determination, and hard work of Merseyside Police officers, PCSO’s and staff to keep our communities safe and my thanks go to them for everything they do, day in day out. Prevention is critical to this work, and I am pleased inspectors recognised the strength of Merseyside’s Police partnerships and its determined efforts, supported by our Violence Reduction Partnership, to get upstream and stop vulnerable young people from getting drawn into a life of crime. This is vital if we are to continue to see serious violence reduced. I'm determined to do everything I can to support the Chief Constable and her workforce as they continue to pursue those organised crime groups, prevent vulnerable young people from getting drawn into crime and make all our communities safer and stronger.” Assistant Chief Constable Jo Edwards, added:- "The NWROCU works collaboratively with our 6 North West Forces to tackle Serious and Organised Crime. As our lead Force, the NWROCU works closely with Merseyside Police, as it does with each of our Regional Forces, to support and lead activity to protect our communities. Today’s report reflects the strength of the coordination and partnership between our regional forces and stakeholders to understand and tackle the threat from serious and organised crime. The horrific events seen in Merseyside during 2022 are unfortunately examples of the significant harm that those involved in serious and organised crime can have on communities, incidents which will have lifelong effects on families and communities. The collective strength and drive of our approach to SOC is a demonstration of our continued resolve to relentlessly disrupt those individuals and groups involved. The report highlights the level of threat that emanates from within the Region, the grading of outstanding reflects our collaborative ability to understand and tackle those who seek to cause such harm through criminal acts." Within the last year Operation Venetic resulted in:-
To read the report please click here.
We will bring you more on this topic within our next weekly edition of Southport & Mersey Reporter. What are your thoughts and views on this news about our local Police Force? Please do let us know by emailing our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter as we would like to know them. You can also comment below! COMMENTS (0)
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