High-level organised criminals have been fleeing the country after being exposed by the EncroChat encrypted phone hack, according to a top detective.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen, head of investigations at Merseyside Police, told the ECHO the infiltration of the network by French and Dutch police was the most "impactive tactic" against organised crime policing has seen. DCS Kameen spoke at the launch of a two-week firearm surrender, which enables anyone with an illegal or unlicensed firearm to hand it over safely without fear of prosecution.
Despite some recent serious shootings, including the wounding of a 15-year-old girl caught in crossfire at a Toxteth bus-stop, Merseyside is experiencing a 20-year low in the number of firearms discharges, with 43 recorded in the last financial year against regular totals of between 80 and 100 within recent years.
