POLICE "PRESENTS" IN THE CITY CENTRE

THE Friday before Christmas is always one of the busiest times for our city and this year we’re expecting up to 150,000 people to come into the city in for last minute shopping, as well as lots of office Christmas parties.

This Christmas, Merseyside Police and partners are taking positive action, so people are able to continue to enjoy our city, in a safe environment.

Working with our partners, there will be a wide range of tactics in place to address issues such as personal safety and alcohol and drug related violence including:-

► "Cocaine –Spot Checks” – policing campaign

► Highly visible policing presence in the city

► Licensed premises visits

► Safety arch operations

► ANPR operation

As well these activities, projections will be played in Concert Square with a focus on personal safety advice and responsible drinking messages. Officers will be out with our publicity pod and inflatable mobile phone in Holy Corner, encouraging people to register their property on the National Mobile Property Register (NMPR). Over a 100 businesses have also been contacted to encourage them to speak with employees and deliver seasonal safety tips.

A new feature of this year’s operation will be the "Sniff it out” cocaine operation, which will target those who bring cocaine into the city. This campaign is a joint campaign with City Safe and the Crown Prosecution Service and officers will be out and about with drug detecting dogs and a mobile policing unit.

Liverpool North Area Commander Jon Ward said:- "We know that this Friday will certainly be a busy night for our region’s pubs, clubs and bars and we want people to come into our city and enjoy themselves. We will be targeting people, intent on causing misery over the Christmas period, whether that’s by stealing people’s belongings or committing violent offences. We also want people to take responsibility for themselves; our messages to people coming into the city are – take some simple steps; keep your bags fastened and phones hidden, stay together and drink responsibly. This year we are using a new tactic to tackle cocaine dealing and use. We want people to know that we will be moving around the city with our mobile detecting unit and if they have got cocaine on them, they will be caught – if you are caught it will not only ruin your night out but can also have an effect on your future. So we are quite clear - don’t bother bringing drugs into our city.”

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, Liverpool City Council cabinet member for community safety, said:- "Liverpool city centre is one of the safest in the country and we want people to come into it to have a great time. But we don’t want them not have their Christmas ruined by acting irresponsibly – follow the police advice, stay safe and have a great Christmas."

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