SHOTS FIRED, GARAGE FORECOURT QUEENS DRIVE / MOSCOW DRIVE

MERSEYSIDE Police are investigating after reports of shots being fired at a garage forecourt at the junction of Queens Drive and Moscow Drive at around 3pm on Monday, 25 January 2010. There are no reports of anyone being injured but the garage doorway has been damaged.

Investigations are at an early stage and although the motive is unknown, detectives believe this discharge was a targeted attack against two men who were on foot in the area. The men did not stop at the scene and officers are currently working to trace them.

Detectives are also working to piece together the events of this incident but it is thought that the shots were fired by an offender or offenders travelling in a vehicle, which was seen been driven erratically in the area at the time.

The garage forecourt has been cordoned off and one lane Queens Drive northbound has been closed, whilst Crime Scene Investigators carry out forensic examinations. As a result motorists are advised to avoid the area while diversions are in place.

Detective Superintendent Martin Andrew said:- "We are determined to get the guns and people involved in this incident off the streets of Merseyside. The offenders showed a dangerous disregard for members of the public who were in the area at the time, and it is pure good fortune, given the busy road and garage, that no-one was injured or even killed, as a result of their actions.  We take incidents like this very seriously and are committed to acting quickly on any information that the community provides to us. The offender or offenders who carried out this indiscriminate attack on a busy route need to be caught. I would therefore appeal to members of the community who have any information which could help us with our investigation to come forward. By working together as a community we can make it clear that we will not tolerate guns on our streets. We are committed to ensuring that the streets of Merseyside are safe to live, work and visit for all our communities and we have stepped up patrols in the area to provide reassurance to members of the public, while enquiries are on-going. Anyone with any information about this incident can contact the Matrix team on:- 0151 777 5699 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111."

Road Traffic Collision Investigation - Stopgate Lane, Aintree

MERSEYSIDE Police on Thursday, 21 January 2010, started an investigation into a road traffic collision that happened on Stopgate Lane, Aintree.

Police saw motorcycle and signalled for it to stop, as it was apparent it was driving at speed, it failed to do so and continued to travel down Long Lane towards the East Lancs Road.

A short time later on Stopgate Lane, the motorcycle collided with a kerb. The police, which had its sirens sounding, car came to a safe halt behind the collision.

The two 19 year old men on board the motorcycle, who are both from the Fazakerley area, were taken to hospital where their injuries are described as serious.

It has been established the motorcycle involved in the collision was outstanding stolen.

Stopgate Lane, Aintree remains closed whilst investigations are on-going and during the rush hour, motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Woman found dead in car

ON 22 January 2010 Lancashire Constabulary named the 35 year old woman found dead in a car on Pool Hey Lane, Scarisbrick as Kate Mott, from Southport. Her body was found on Thursday, 21 January 2010, and Police initially believed it to be the scene of a fatal accident.

A post mortem examination has since found that Mrs Mott, a mother of two, who worked at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital, as a staff nurse had died of strangulation.

A 31 year old Brent Mott 31 years of Everard Road, Southport was charged with the murder of Kate Elizabeth Mott later arrested on suspicion of murder. He appear in North Sefton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 26 January 2010.

Jonathan Parry, chief executive of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, paid tribute to Kate Mott:- "I am sure I speak for the whole Trust when I say that our thoughts are with Kate's family at this enormously difficult time. She was a staff nurse in the intensive care unit at Southport and Formby District General Hospital and a popular and respected colleague. Kate was a knowledgeable, gentle professional who personified excellence in nursing. Her death is not only a loss to her family and the Trust but to the communities of Southport and Ormskirk which she served so well. She will be sadly missed. We have made support and counselling available to colleagues in the Trust who may have been affected by this tragic event."

Lancashire Constabulary and Merseyside Police are still appealing for any information and are still keen to hear from anyone who saw the following car.  The vehicle, a blue Ford Focus, with the registration number KC05 FVG, was found in the field about 30m (98ft) from the road, around 8.30am on Thursday, 21 January 2010. Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have seen the car in the 24 hours before it was found near Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Center.  The dark-coloured lining from the car boot has been reported by police to have been missing from the Focus, along with a green picnic rug and officers are also searching for some cream-coloured bedding, which has a leaf pattern design, a set of house keys, and a dark-coloured Gillet-style body warmer, which all could be significant to the investigation.

They also wish to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Pool Hey Lane and Wyke Lane area.   Anyone who can help with information about either the blue car, the missing items or the unidentified man is urged to call Copy Lane CID on:- 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.

UPDATED APPEAL - MAN FOUND INJURED ON PRINCES ROAD, LIVERPOOL

MERSEYSIDE Police would like to appeal directly for a woman who assisted a 19 year old man who was found with head injuries on Princes Road on the night of 26 January 2010, to come forward. The woman is described as being of mixed race, in her early 20s, about 5ft 3" tall with a medium build. She was seen with a boy of about 9 years old, who remained with her when the ambulance arrived.    DCI Kath Adams said:- "It would appear that this woman stopped out of concern to help this man, and we would like to talk to her incase she has any information which may be important to the enquiry."  Police are also keen to trace the occupants of a silver car who are thought to have also assisted the man before the arrival of the ambulance.  It is now thought that the 19 year old could have been the victim of an assault. He remains in a very poorly condition in hospital.  Anyone with information is asked to contact officers on:- 0151 777 5394 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.