A large police presence surrounded an estate.
Police were seen on Home Farm Road on the Woodchurch estate today, Wednesday, January 11. Two police vans, a scientific support van and a police car were at the scene.
Photos of the scene shared on social media showed around eight forensic officers at the scene at around 12pm. When the ECHO attended the scene at around 1pm, residents said police had been there for a number of hours, with some people believing they had been there overnight.
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Forensics appeared to be focusing their efforts on a house. A spokesperson for Merseyside Police would not reveal the full extent on why police were there, but said "this activity is part of an ongoing investigation.”
In the past 12 months, the Woodchurch estate has seen an increase in gang activity, including gun violence. Back in December, Merseyside Police issued a new public spaces protection order (PSPO) in Woodchurch to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime.
The order is in place for a period of three years and covers the area in and around Hoole Road. The PSPO will give police and authorised officers powers to issue a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 to anyone who commits an offence in the area for example drinking or attempting to drink alcohol in a public space.
The key rules within the order are:
- Racing any bikes, scooters or wheeled vehicle at a dangerous speed and /or in an otherwise dangerous manner at any time.
- Wearing anything in an open public space within the restricted area which covers any part of that person’s face. This does not include face coverings worn for religious reasons or for health reasons relating to an existing medical condition.
- Drinking or attempting to drink alcohol in a public space.
- Inhaling, injecting, or otherwise attempting to use or be in possession of any intoxicating substances or “legal highs” or drug paraphernalia.
- Between the hours of 3pm and 10pm each day, any person in any open public space in the restricted area who is in a gathering of two or more people must leave when required to do so by police or authorised officers
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