21/07/2006
Police in Walton Hall Park
Over recent months, Friday nights have seen a large increase in incidents of disorder and violence in Walton Hall Park.
There have, on occasions, been in excess of 200 young people many of whom are found to be under the influence of alcohol. The park has been left with large numbers of broken bottles of alcohol, preventing children and other law-abiding citizens to be able to use this park for recreational facilities.
To address the issue of anti social behaviour and under age drinking in the park and to reduce the fear of crime for community members, Merseyside police along with Citywatch `Patrol and Response` officers have been working with the management and staff from the Walton Sports Centre in an attempt to clear the area of the youths who are the instigators of unacceptable behaviour.
As a consequence the park will have an increase in policing activity in the park during the summer, involving officers in plain clothes and uniform, park wardens and Citywatch street crime enforcement officers with the support of CCTV facilities.
The wardens will be using `head cams` to record any incident of anti social behaviour and identify the main culprits. The resultant film can and will be used to support prosecution of offenders. These patrols will remain in place right through the busy summer months ensuring the general public can use the park in safety.
The dedicated Neighbourhood Sergeant from Lower Lane Police Station, Sandra Hawthorn said:"I would like to appeal to parents of young people, particularly during the summer holidays, to prevent their children having access to alcohol which is fuelling the incidents of violence, and to be aware of the problems innocent people have faced there."
All alcohol being consumed by under -age children will be confiscated and any incidents of public order and violence will be treated seriously. If young people wish to use the park, they need to remember that a park is a public place and consideration to be given to other members of the public also."
Police Inspector Steve Longrigg from Citywatch said: "Working together, the Police and Liverpool City Council are determined to solve the problem of anti social behaviour in our parks."
"Liverpool is one of the safest cities in the country and the Police and Liverpool City Council are determined to make it even safer by dealing effectively with anti social behaviour. This type of behaviour is not acceptable in our open spaces".
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