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MERSEYSIDE POLICE
ADVANCES IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST SERIOUS AND ORGANISED CRIME
MERSEYSIDE Police are
advancing their fight against serious and organised crime with the
creation of a specialised team.
The new Matrix Serious Organised Crime Team (MSOC), headed up by
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ward, will build on the framework
established by the nationally recognised Matrix team, which was
established by Merseyside Police in 2005 to tackle gun and gang
crime.
ACC Andy Ward, said:- "Serious and organised crime can create
a vicious downward spiral of fear, intimidation and economic decline
in our neighbourhoods. It has a direct impact on our communities,
whether it be through the drugs and violence that bring misery to
our streets, the guns that can seriously injure or kill, cyber crime
which can infiltrate people's homes, or the exploitation of our
vulnerable members of the community, particularly children.
Merseyside Police has always stood firm in its promise to tackle
serious and organised crime and we constantly strive to improve the
way we work. In the last 10 years crime trends have changed
significantly and we need to ensure that we move with the times so
that we can effectively deal with those responsible for serious and
organised crime on our streets. The new team will bring together
1500 officers and support staff from the existing Matrix team, the
Force Intelligence Bureau, Force Crime Operations Unit (FCOU) and
Operational Support Unit. By bringing these teams together under one
umbrella the force will provide a more resilient and sophisticated
approach to tackling the threats of serious and organised crime (gun
crime, major crime investigations including murder and rape, the
supply and distribution of controlled drugs, hi-tech crime, child
sexual exploitation and financial crime). They will work closely
with different partner organisations to ensure that all avenues are
explored, and legislation used to disrupt serious and organised
crime on Merseyside. The success of tackling serious and organised
crime is not just down to Merseyside Police and our partner
organisations. We are reliant on our communities if we are to make
an impact on serious and organised crime and make our streets safer
for future generations. Information from the public is key to our
success, we need to work together and in truth the public is our
biggest partner and they can help us to make a difference."
Merseyside Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said:- "When I
took office more than a year ago, I made tackling serious and
organised crime on Merseyside one of my policing priorities. The
creation of this new specialised team will build and strengthen the
already hugely effective work of Matrix. This means the Force will
be in an even stronger position to identify and deal with those
involved in gun, gang and drug related crime. There will be no
hiding place for those who bring misery to our communities, whether
it be through the guns that kill and maim, the drugs that blight our
neighbourhoods or cyber crime which harms people in their own homes.
Organised crime groups intimidate and corrupt and have a corrosive
effect on some of our communities. The creation of this new team
shows the Chief Constable and I will not rest in our battle to
tackle the threat of serious and organised crime and make all the
streets of Merseyside safer."
Can you
help solve Merseyside railway burglaries?
CAN you help British
Transport Police Detectives trace those responsible for a series of
burglaries in Liverpool? During the past few months there have been
5 burglaries at stations and shops along the Merseyrail Northern
Line and, on each occasion, the criminals have stolen cigarettes.
Now British Transport Police Detectives are hoping someone in the
area will be able to shed some light on the identity of those
responsible.
Detective Constable Dominic Wilcox said:- "I am certain the
criminals have stolen the cigarettes to sell on, rather than for
personal use, and I have no doubt that someone in the area between
Liverpool and Ormskirk will have been offered the cigarettes. I am
calling on these people to come forward with any information they
may have."
If you have been offered cigarettes, or have any information about
the burglaries, please contact British Transport Police on:- 0800 40
50 40 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.
BRIGHOUSE
& RASTRICK BRASS BAND TO PERFORM IN LIVERPOOL
THE world famous Brighouse
and Rastrick Brass Band, renowned for its hit single 'The
Floral Dance', will be performing in Liverpool Philharmonic
Hall on Sunday, 9 February 2014. After enjoying a successful
contesting year in 2013, the current Whit Friday Champion and recent
Yorkshire and National Championships winner will provide a night of
entertaining music, from movie and popular music arrangements to
classical transcriptions and will include contributions from the
Band's renowned soloists!
To be led by Guest Conductor Nigel Seaman,
the afternoon concert begins at:- 2.30pm and tickets are available
from:-
liverpoolphil.com or via the
booking line:- 0151 709 3789.
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9 men arrested
for the supply and conspiracy to assist in the supply of controlled
drugs
IN the early hours of
Tuesday, 14 January 2014, Officers from Merseyside Police initially
arrested 4 men on suspicion of conspiracy to supply and conspiracy
to assist in the supply of controlled drugs.
The arrests follow a thorough and
extensive investigation by detectives from the specialist Matrix
team, which is responsible for tackling serious and organised crime.
During the investigation officers have seized 5 kilos of heroin and
half a tonne of adulterants (which are used as cutting agents for
Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine).
The arrests today were carried out following raids at addresses in
Moreton, Wallasey, Old Swan, Knowsley Village, The Midlands and
Paisley in Scotland. Searches of the properties are ongoing.
Detective Chief Superintendent
Paul Richardson, Head of Matrix Serious Organised Crime
investigation wing, said:- "The arrests this morning are the
result of an extensive investigation by detectives. Acting on
information we carefully planned this initiative over several
months. These arrests reaffirm our commitment to tackling drug
supply and supports the force's wider Serious and Organised Crime
Strategy. The force has announced today that it is building on the
success of the specialist Matrix Team, which was established back in
2005 to target gun and gang related crime, with the creation of the
Matrix Serious Organised Crime portfolio. The creation of the new
department brings together 1500 officers and support staff from the
existing Matrix team, the Force Intelligence Bureau, Force Crime
Operations Unit (FCOU) and Operational Support Unit. By bringing
these teams together under one umbrella the force will provide a
more resilient and sophisticated approach to tackling the threats of
serious and organised crime (gun crime, major crime investigations
including murder and rape, the supply and distribution of controlled
drugs, hi-tech crime, child sexual exploitation and financial
crime). They will work closely with different partner organisations
to ensure that all avenues are explored, and legislation used to
disrupt serious and organised crime on Merseyside. This operation is
just one example of the Force's commitment; with the support of the
public and partner agencies; to tackling drug related crime and
organised crime groups working in the Merseyside area. We know that
the drugs we have seized during this investigation were destined for
supply across the North West of England, Scotland and the North East
and would have caused untold misery in a number of different
communities. These arrests send out a clear message to those
involved in organised crime. Organised crime, which includes the
production and supply of drugs, blights our communities and puts
ordinary law abiding people at risk. I would like to reassure the
public that we will keep up the pressure on those involved in
serious and organised crime on Mersyside. We will relentlessly
pursue these offenders and put them before the courts to make our
streets safer."
In total, following the initial
drugs raids by the Matrix Serious Organised Crime Team, 9 people
were arrested, on suspicion of supply of a controlled drug and
assisting in the supply of a controlled drug and where been bailed
pending further inquiries. |
