Police have arrested 170 people after dozens of raids were carried out across Merseyside following a week of violence.
In the days following the killings of Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale and Olivia Pratt-Korbel officers executed 58 warrants, seized 46 vehicles, suspected Class A and B drugs, and two firearms. The action comes as Merseyside Police step up operations targeting suspected organised crime groups.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed that the force had also received "over 280 submissions of intelligence" from people regarding organised crime."
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Sam Rimmer, 22, was shot on Lavrock Bank in Dingle while walking with friends on August 16. Four people have been arrested on suspicion of his murder. Three have been bailed while a fourth remains in custody.
Ashley Dale was gunned down in her own home on August 21. Merseyside Police said the 28-year-old was not the intended target. Two people have since been arrested in connection with her murder.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, was shot in her own home by a stray bullet shot by a gunman chasing Joseph Nee. Olivia died in Alder Hey Children's Hospital a short while later. Two men were arrested on suspicion of her murder and have been bailed. A 36-year-old has been returned to prison after breaching the terms of his licence.
Some of the other significant arrests in the last week include a 44-year-old man from Liverpool arrested on suspicion of affray and racial abuse after an altercation. A 42-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and failing to stop after a collision involving several vehicles on Finch Lane in the early hours of this morning, Sunday, August 28. A 50-year-old Liverpool man was arrested on suspicion of assault and cultivation of cannabis in a separate incident.
Detective Chief Superintendent and Head of Investigations, Mark Kameen, said: “These increasing figures are part of an ongoing operation, targeting suspected organised crime groups and serious violence across Merseyside and beyond. We hope these figures and the relentless work of our officers over the past week shows our commitment in targeting anyone involved in organised crime and removing dangerous weapons and drugs from our streets.
"The information we have received from our communities has been phenomenal and vital in our recent murder investigations. If you have any information that could continue to help our inquiries please contact us and we will do the rest.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.
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