Capital of Culture will be success, vows police chief

Jul 30 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE’S Chief Constable pledged that Capital of Culture will still be a success, despite the Government refusing to hand over any money towards policing costs.

Bernard Hogan-Howe was speaking on the one-year anniversary of the launch of his total policing scheme, which was last night hailed a success with 1864 arrests, 1460 seized cars and more than £300,000 worth of drugs confiscated in a year during targeted operations.

But the challenge is to keep crime down when around 2m extra visitors are expected to pour into the city during Capital of Culture year in 2008.

So far, all pleas for extra funding to help police cover an estimated 70 major events, have fallen on deaf ears.

Merseyside Police, the Police Authority and Liverpool City Council have been working to secure the funds needed for extra officers and local MPs have lobbied Parliament for the £9.8m needed.

Mr Hogan-Howe said: “Liverpool City Council is looking to see how it is able to support the plan for more police officers in 2008 and we are waiting for central government to give us some capital funds.

“But whatever happens we will have a fantastic 2008 and we will achieve that regardless.

“If we can get 2,000 extra police officers on the streets it will help challenge some of the old jokes and stereotypes about Liverpool. This will in turn aid the area to regenerate.

“We never claim to be perfect, there will always be crime but reduction is happening and this should not be underestimated.”

The new system of targeted raids and operations carried out under the total policing initiative has seen 33 operations take place over the past year on range of criminal activities, including drug- related crime, vehicle crime and rogue security companies.

The release of national statistics earlier this month showed the Merseyside region enjoyed the country’s biggest drop in crime.

Mr Hogan-Howe said: “We are celebrating a total approach to policing and working in a team, crime is coming down because of this.

“We are especially pleased with the results that show burglaries and robberies have reduced which are going up in other parts of the country.

“We have seized a huge amount of cars which stops criminals travelling around and have put a big emphasis on drugs raids.

“Utilising technology is incredibly important and devices like the drone and the AMP network help us to cover more ground.

“It is also important for the public to see what we do and we are making an effort to publicise positive achievement so confidence grows.

“To make sure this success continues we need to carry on with more of the same.

“We cannot get complacent and it is important to repeat the work we have been doing.”

The most recent operation, conducted over the weekend, targeted the selling of alcohol and drugs to youngsters.

This led to 206 arrests being made for offences including armed robbery, possession

of drugs with intent to supply, and drink/drug related offences.

Officers also seized three firearms, including Taser guns, and ammunition.

There were more than 1,000 visits to licensed premises, leading to five being closed on the night.

lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk