Merseyside police arrest 66 people after 45 warrants across region
A total of 66 people were arrested and weapons, cash and drugs seized after 45 warrants were executed across Merseyside as part of Operation Vanguard on Thursday (23 July).
More than 300 police officers were deployed in Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral conducting early morning warrants, roadside checks, land searches and more in a sustained and relentless offensive against criminals operating in our local communities.
As a result, 66 people were arrested – with a number subsequently charged - for a huge range of serious offices including:
Rape
Sexual offences
Sexual communication with a child
Possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs
Possession of indecent images, conspiracy to supply drugs
Handling stolen goods
Burglary
Theft
Harassment
Controlling and coercive behaviour
Domestic assault
Prison recall
International arrest warrant
Possession of Class A and B controlled drugs
Breach of a non-molestation order
Breach of a restraining order
Threats to kill
Stalking and harassment
Possession of ammunition
False imprisonment
Dangerous driving
During the warrants, officers seized vast quantities of drugs, cash and stolen good. Among them were:
Two zombie knives, a machete and a knife
A CS gas cannister and baton
Two bullets
A BB gun and a replica firearm
19 e-bikes
Six e-scooters
One quad bike
Four cars
£60,000 cash recovered
10 blocks of cannabis, 5kg of cannabis in wraps, 30 wraps of white powder, and one large bag of suspected drugs
An estimated £500,000 of designer suspected stolen/counterfeit clothes, bags, trainers and shoes
£5,000 of designer clothing seized under POCA
5,000 cigarettes and 3kg of tobacco seized by trading standards on Wirral with a closure order application
The activity took place in every Basic Command Unit (BCU) in Merseyside and the below arrests and seizures were made in each BCU:
WIRRAL
13 arrests, 10 search warrants and seizures of £500,000 of stolen / counterfeit clothing, drugs, 22 stolen pedal cycles, 13 e-bikes, two e-scooters, one car, two zombie knives, cash
SEFTON
17 arrests, 15 search warrants, seizures of drugs and cash
KNOWSLEY / ST HELENS
11 arrests, nine search warrants, seizures of £5,000 of designer clothing, over £30,000 cash, 5kg of cannabis, two bullets
LIVERPOOL
25 arrests, 11 search warrants, seizures of drugs, £27,000 cash, six e-bikes, three cars, 10 blocks of cannabis and a knife
Anyone with information on crime in their area should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by calling 101.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously
