Data detailing the performance of Merseyside Police is a “mixed bag” according to the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
Senior officers from Merseyside Police presented an up to date look at performance during a scrutiny meeting held by Emily Spurrell earlier this week. The force’s leadership teams provided a breakdown of how its officers were tackling crimes across Merseyside.
It was revealed there had been a “year-on-year decrease” in damage, discharges, fatal shootings and injuries sustained as a result of a firearm, despite a series of "nasty" incidents including one which left a 15-year-old girl with serious injuries. The panel was also told that around 80 cases of knife crime were recorded as of December 2021, including the tragic murder of 12-year-old schoolgirl Ava White.
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Ms Spurrell expressed her concern around the 170% increase in cyber crimes, with the majority of those related to stalking and harassment. She said: “It was a mixed bag, there were lots of positives and seeing significant reductions are very welcome.
“There were some worrying stats including around cyber crime, particularly in relation to stalking and harassment and I’ll be working to make sure the police are alive to this.”
The information provided to Ms Spurrell’s hearing heard that robberies across the board had reduced by 1.2% and robberies at the region’s businesses are expected to be down by 20.5%. However, it was said that for the financial year 2021/22, violent crimes without injury were expected to increase by 40% while violent crimes with injury had gone up by 9%, similar to that of homicides.
Drug crimes have fallen by 8.1% and more than 750 arrests had been made in relating to County Lines operations and around £500,000 seized. Firearms have also been seized as part of the border drugs work.
Ms Spurrell said: “We’ve seen some really positive results around County Lines and we’ve seen gangs moving away from young people because the police are so hot on this. We can’t underestimate the scale of the issue.”
The PCC told the meeting that on guns being used there had been a number of “nasty incidents” across Merseyside. It was said that 29 weapons discharges have been recorded in 2021/22, down from 83 in 2019/20.
She said: “The data we saw is a snapshot picture. On weapons, we can’t ignore the fact there have been discharges but the statistics are positive.
“Until our communities feel safe, it’s right that there is a focus on this.” The PCC said she would be “particularly looking at” the force’s outcome rate after it was revealed by Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley that currently it was “just below average” and there was “work to do as a team.”
She said: “We know a lot of crimes are related to wider issues. I’ll be looking at how the police are identifying offenders to bring them to justice and how to increase that positive outcome rate.
“These things aren’t unique to Merseyside but it is frustrating to victims and I’ll be assessing how we compare to other areas.”
