Police raids in Southport, Bootle & Liverpool after shootings

 "Although we don't believe recent incidents in Formby and Bootle are linked, incidents as serious as this are concerning"

Merseyside Police has continued its crackdown on serious organised crime with a series of raids in Southport, Bootle and Liverpool this morning.

Officers from Sefton teamed up with colleagues from the force's Matrix Serious Organised Crime Unit to execute drugs and firearms warrants in Bootle, Southport and Liverpool at around 8am.

It follows an incident where a home in Formby was shot at yesterday morning.

A 15-year-old was arrested at a house in Glover Place on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and robbery offences. Specialist officers searched the house and seized a quantity of cannabis and drug paraphrenalia. 

A scrambler bike and numerous mobile phones were also seized from a property in Captains Close in Bootle. The items will be forensicially examined. 

And days ago, as part of the same crackdown, police executed a warrant in Riley Avenue and arrested a 17-year-old on suspicion of drugs offences after a large amount of cannabis was found. 

Police teams also executed search warrants at a house in Winstone Road in Dovecot, Liverpool and at three lock-up garages in Shakespeare Street, Southport. No-one was arrested at these addresses.

Neighbourhood officers and police community support officers will be on hand in the areas where the warrants have been carried out to reassure the local community and address any concerns.

Supt Claire Richards from Sefton command team said: "Following a number of firearms incidents in our borough, we have launched this operation to target members we suspect of being involved in serious organised crime.

"Although we don't believe the recent incidents in Bootle and Formby are linked, clearly incidents as serious as this are concerning to the law abiding public and we are determined to put a stop to them.

"We are working hard with the local authority to address the issue of gun crime but we cannot do it alone. We have been encouraged by the community's response to witness appeals about these incidents and I would continue to urge people who have information about those involved in criminality to contact the police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and we will take action. "

Story and Photo Source: Southport Visiter