Investigations into a cluster of recent shootings are being hampered by victims refusing to help police - including a man who was shot in the leg this weekend.
The murders of three people over six days of madness in August, including nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, was followed by a few weeks of calm as Merseyside Police cracked down on organised criminals.
But there have been a number of serious firearms incidents in recent weeks, including the murder of 53-year-old nan-of-seven Jackie Rutter in Moreton on October 30 and injury shootings in Litherland and Birkenhead.
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In the latest wounding, a 21-year-old man was shot in the leg on Orrets Meadow Road, in the Woodchurch estate, at 8.10pm on Saturday (December 3). Residents reported hearing "two shots separated by a scream" as the gunman opened fire, before the victim was seen being "dragged" through people's gardens by a second man in search of safety.
On November 5, two men were shot at a community bonfire event in Broad Hey, Litherland, while there have been several shootings that did not involve injuries - including shots being fired at a car in Stockbridge Village, also this weekend.
In that incident, around 5.55am on Sunday (December 4), a suspect riding an electric bike pulled up alongside the vehicle as it drove along Steers Croft and fired multiple shots. The two occupants of the car managed to drive away to safety and were uninjured.
It is believed that the suspect, who was riding an electric bike, pulled up alongside the car and fired multiple times. Neither of the car's occupants were injured, and they were able to drive away to safety.
Today Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen, head of investigations at Merseyside Police, urged people in the affected communities to share information.
He said: "We know that gun crime has a huge impact on our communities and that people understandably feel afraid when incidents such as this happen but I want to reassure those communities that Merseyside Police remains committed to investigating all incidents and removing guns, and those who chose to recklessly use them, off our streets.
"Unfortunately our investigations are often frustrated and obstructed when people, including those who are victims, refuse to tell us what they know. In this most recent incident at the weekend the Wirral victim is not co-operating with our enquiries, but this won’t stop us doing everything we can to find the person or persons responsible.
"Let me be clear - guns have no places on our streets. I would urge anyone with information, either about the incidents at the weekend, or any other incident to come forward and tell us what they know and help us to put these criminals behind bars where they belong."
DCS Kameen said the force would use "all our available powers" to including the use of Dispersal Zones, Public Space Protection Orders, Criminal Behaviour Orders and stop and search powers to crack down on gun crime.
He said: "We will also work alongside the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the Merseyside Organised Crime Partnership (OCP), a joint enterprise which has been running for just over a year and exists to protect the public from organised crime groups and the misery they spread, both through violence and drug supply. The partnership has seen firearms and drugs seized, arrests and successful prosecutions to dismantle organised crime groups.
"We also need our communities to help us. Information from the public is vitally important and when it is passed on either directly or anonymously via Crimestoppers, it can make a huge difference in identifying suspects, seizing weapons and bringing those who use weapons to cause fear and harm to justice."
Anyone with information about who is using or storing weapons in their area is asked to DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.
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