Merseyside Police continues ‘relentless’ crackdown on organised crime
Merseyside Police made more than 30 arrests in 24 hours as it continues its “relentless pursuit” of organised crime groups following a spate of fatal shootings.
It takes the total number of arrests under an operation codenamed Operation Miller to 202, with officers carrying out 69 warrants.
A force spokesperson said: “Our relentless pursuit of those involved in organised crime continues at pace and in the last 24 hours our disruption operation has led to a further 32 arrests; 66 stop searches; the execution of 11 warrants; seizure of eight vehicles and the organisation of eight land searches.
“Our Roads Policing officers are also out and about on major routes in and out of the city targeting those involved in organised crime who are using our road networks.”
The crackdown comes after the deaths of Sam Rimmer, 22, who was shot in Dingle on August 16; Ashley Dale, 28, who was found with gunshot wounds in the back garden of her home in the early hours of August 21; and nine-year old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was shot in her home in Dovecot on August 22.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen, head of investigations, warned anyone involved in serious organised crime on Merseyside that the force was “not going anywhere soon and will continue to disrupt their criminality”.
“The communities of Dovecot, Old Swan and Dingle are still reeling from the murders that have taken place in the areas they call home and we owe it to them to stop those involved in serious organised crime, which can result in innocent members of our communities being seriously injured or killed,” said Det Chief Supt Kameen.
“Our resources have been significantly boosted by officers from across the UK (investigation, firearms and uniformed officers) and we will leave no stone unturned in our search for those who killed nine-year old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Ashley Dale and Sam Rimmer.
“The actions of these individuals has also turned our attention to organised crime groups who are blighting the lives of decent, law abiding members of the community, and we are acting on information coming in to take them out so we can to make our streets safer for the future.
“Information from our communities in relation to the murders is still coming in and we are acting on all the information we receive.
“The murder of Olivia in her own home, the place where she should have been safest, has crossed all boundaries and detectives and uniformed officers are working round the clock to find the person, or persons responsible.”