Merseyside Police

🗣️ To those involved in County Lines: we will find you, we will seize your drugs and weapons, and we will protect the people you seek to exploit. County Lines Intensification Week ran from March 2-8 and below are a snapshot of our results from across #Merseyside 🔽 💪 👮‍♂️ 237 arrests 📞 17 drug lines shut down 💷 More than £42,000 in cash seized 📦 More than 18kg of heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis, nitrous oxide and ketamine seized 🛑 35 dangerous weapons taken off our streets 🤝 50 vulnerable people safeguarded County lines refers to drug dealing in which organised criminal networks use mobile phone lines to move and supply drugs, often exploiting children and vulnerable adults to transport drugs, weapons and money. Our dedicated county lines team, Project Medusa, continues to play a pivotal role in intercepting this exploitation and bringing the exploiters to justice. The project includes the County Lines Taskforce, the Operation Toxic investigation team and Operation Stonehaven, which focuses on early intervention and prevention 👏 This week’s activity sends a clear message to those involved in County Lines: we will find you, we will seize your drugs and weapons, and we will protect the people you seek to exploit. Our work doesn’t end with intensification week – this is a year round commitment. Read all about the week of action via the ‘news’ section of our website - #CLiW

#JAILED | This is fraudster Connor Turner. He has been sent to prison today for fraudulently claiming £71,000 from a pensioner. Turner’s criminal operation involved social engineering where he was able to impersonate the genuine account holder and gain access to his victim’s account. This enabled 21-year-old Turner, of Finborough Road in #Walton, to trick organisations, allowing him to gain unauthorised access to a man’s email and bank accounts. It further transpired that Turner had changed his name to Lee Cooper by deed poll, and subsequently opened bank accounts in that name. 🗣️ After an extensive investigation detectives charged Turner with 33 offences of unauthorised access to a computer, unauthorised access to computer with intent to commit further offence, fraud by false representation, acquisition, use or possession of criminal property and failure to comply with a Section 49 notice to disclose the key to protected information. ❌ Today he was sentenced to four years in prison and given a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order to start upon his release. Turner compromised security numerous times and had no regard for the elderly victim, stealing his money and hacking his online account. He clearly demonstrated advanced planning to create a new identity via Deed Poll and renting premises to carry out his deceit. He also created bogus shell companies to use the victim’s credit card. He drained the victim’s savings accounts and went to great lengths pretending to be him to his former employer, which resulted him conning them out of a further £16,000. But not content with stealing all his life savings, Turner continued to steal the man’s pension by getting the payments rerouted to him. He also hacked another man’s savings account and stole £6,300 from him. The investigation found that Turner spent the stolen money on designer clothes, high-value purchases, dining out, fast food, and multiple holidays abroad for him and the family. 💻 Visit the Stop! Think Fraud website for more comprehensive guidance and support on this. 👉 If you've been a victim, contact your bank immediately if your financial details may have been compromised, and report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online.

It's been a busy few days with #ProjectServator deployments. From @Everton and Pier Head for the Liverpool Half Marathon on Sunday to the city centre via @AintreeRaces yesterday. If you see a deployment, don't worry – we have been using this specialist tactic throughout Merseyside since 2018. The aim is to disrupt a variety of criminality, while providing a reassuring presence for the public. Project Servator officers are specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone may have criminal intent such as gathering information to help them plan or prepare to commit a crime. The officers will also liaise with staff and speak to members of the public to encourage vigilance and the reporting of suspicious activity. These patrols are highly visible, but we also use less visible resources including plain-clothes officers and CCTV operators. The deployments are often supported by colleagues from other specialist teams. It was nice to speak to lots of locals and visitors who were pleased to see the deployments. Thank you to everyone that spoke to officers and learned how the patrols help protect our communities. You can play a part in keeping our communities safe too – if you see something that doesn't feel right, report it to staff, security or a police officer, or call 101. In an emergency, always call 999. For more ℹ about Project Servator, visit the force website: orlo.uk/L3PQ2

#CEADay | Today, as part of Child Exploitation Awareness Day, we’re raising awareness about how children are groomed, coerced or threatened into sexual or criminal activity. It can happen to any child, online or offline. Children cannot consent, and they must always be seen as victims. 👉 Spot the signs: Sudden changes in behaviour, going missing, unexplained gifts, older new friends, or frequent calls/messages from unknown numbers may all be indicators of exploitation. If you are concerned about a child then you should make a report. 🚨 If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. 📞 Not an emergency? Call 101 to report your concerns or visit our website. 💬 For advice you can also contact the NSPCC Helpline (0808 800 5000) or Childline (0800 1111).

#JAILED | Crime 'snack' down 🤌 Imagine spending months hiding behind encrypted messages - only to get arrested stepping off your flight back from Dubai because you sent a picture of yourself eating a bag of crisps 🥔 James Hitchmough went by the handles 'BRUTALHWALE' and 'ROLL-PLAY' on Encrochat and communicated with more than 50 other users of the service. The messages downloaded by law enforcement showed Hitchmough, 35, of Kingsway, Roby had brokered the sale and supply of 64.5kg of cocaine, 37.5kg of heroin and 33kg of cannabis. He was found to have used Encrochat between March-June 2020 to conspire to supply cocaine, heroin and cannabis - He was also involved in illegal money transfers totalling £2.4m in cash. Investigators who studied the data downloaded from Encrochat found references to him living in the #Huyton area, and to him owning a Ford van that had made journeys to Oldham and Manchester. Hitchmough’s previous conviction was also discussed, and other users referred to him as ‘Jim’ and ‘Jimmy’. A fishing trip paid for by Hitchmough was also described and a photo sent of his lakeside pitch. Detectives also matched the fingerprints on file to those shown in an image of his hand over a bag of crisps. On October 27, officers received information Hitchmough had boarded a plane from Dubai to Manchester and were waiting at the airport where they detained him ✈️ The investigation into Hitchmough was part of Operation Aquarium, which is our response to Operation Venetic: an international operation targeting criminals who used a mobile encryption service, commonly referred to as Encrochat, in an attempt to evade detection. Today, Hitchmough was jailed for 13 years. We know the misery caused by the sale and distribution of drugs, with vulnerable drug users and wider communities paying a heavy cost. We are committed to protecting the public by stopping the flow of drugs into Merseyside’s criminal markets 💪

🍀Happy St Patrick’s Day! 🍀 The city is set to see thousands celebrate and enjoy today 💚 Our officers and our partner agencies want to ensure everyone has a safe, fun, and memorable time. Liverpool is well known for hosting many major events where thousands of people visit the city to enjoy what it has to offer, and they are always given a warm welcome – and St Patrick’s Day is no exception. Please remember to: ✨ Drink responsibly ✨ Behave considerately ✨ Look out for each other ✨ Keep an eye on your belongings Stay alert and report anything you see that doesn’t feel right to an officer or by calling 101. To report a crime you can contact us on social media - @MerPolCC - You can also report information via our website. Have a brilliant time! #StPatricksDay 🍀🎉

@EkisakEra Hello. To make a report of a crime or offence against you, please go to our website and complete the report online form. If you prefer to stay on X to do this, please follow our control room @MerPolCC and send them a DM. Thank you. NL - Admin

@MerseyPolice i am receiving threats from a group of individuals living in your area

Good morning. If you would like to make a report of any kind of crime or alleged offence, please complete a report online form on our website where your information can be kept out of the public domain and acted on by our contact resolution officers @MerPolCC Thank you. NL - Admin

Good morning Merseyside, Hannah, Clare and Lucy with you until 7pm. Contact us with any non-urgent reports and we will be happy to help. Always remember to dial 999 in an emergency. Have a lovely day! 🙂

FOUND | Great news Wesley Royle from Kirkby has been found safe and well. Thank you so much for sharing the appeal ♥️

FOUND | Great news, 15-year-old Ashton Jacobsen has been found safe and well in Halewood. Thank you so much for your help in sharing the appeal, it really does make a difference ♥️

FOUND | Great news! #missing Holly Miller from Kirkby has returned safe and well this afternoon. Thanks as always for sharing our appeals

FOUND | Good news, Nico, aged 16, has been found safe and well in Wirral. As always thank you for your help in locating him, which really does make a difference. ♥️

Did you know that some of the police patrols at @LPL_Airport are #ProjectServator deployments? You may have seen deployments today if you were passing through the airport, perhaps to somewhere less rainy and windy! Don't worry, it's all part of the airport's security operation and officers are there to disrupt criminal activity and keep you safe. We work closely with the airport and deployments can happen anywhere in and around the site, at any time. These patrols consist of officers in uniform and plain clothes who are specially trained to spot tell-tale signs that someone may be gathering information to help them plan or prepare to commit a crime. During deployments, officers will also encourage the public and staff at the airport to be vigilant and report suspicious activity. That's lots of extra eyes and ears helping us keep you safe 👍🏻 Remember, if you see something that doesn't feel right, report it to staff, security or a police officer, or call 101. You can also report anonymously at gov.uk/ACT or call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321. In an emergency, always call 999. For more ℹ about Project Servator and how you can help us keep people safe, visit the force website: orlo.uk/etGm5

GOOD NEWS | #Missing Misher has been found safe and well following our earlier appeal. Thanks for sharing 👏

@MerPolSthLpool Following enquiries it has been established the victim was a 17 year-old female. An investigation is ongoing.

Emergency services are in #Toxteth following an injury shooting in the early hours of today, Thur 12 March. At 12.55am armed officers were called to Lime Grove to reports of a woman in her 20s having been shot in the legs. She has been taken to hospital orlo.uk/iGlWi

SEIZED | A stop-check of a car on Brookland Way #StHelens last night (Tues) led to the seizure of around £50,000 cash, and suspected drugs. A #Southport man, 45, and a #Thornton woman, 38, were arrested. And no, these items are not still available 😉 orlo.uk/sW1D0

WANTED | Do you know this man? Lee Hickman is wanted on a prison recall after failing to adhere to his licence conditions. Hickman, 39, is white, 6ft 1in tall, with blue eyes and speaks with a Liverpool accent. If you see Hickman, please call 999 immediately and do not approach him. If you hold any other information, contact us @MerPolCC on X and Facebook, via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online orlo.uk/8ydSr, with reference 26000156570. You can also report information via our website: orlo.uk/tYlSK

GOOD NEWS | #Missing Ben from #Wirral has been found safe and well following our earlier appeal. Thanks for sharing 👏