AN ESTATE rocked by crime and violence at the hands of a “dangerous” gang is responsible for multiple shootings, police say.
Merseyside Police has been targeting criminals on the Woodchurch estate in Birkenhead with their focus on a gang known as the ‘Woodchurch Organised Crime Group' (OCG).
The gang, who are involved in drug-dealing, violence, and firearms use, is described by police as being in their “top three” threats to public safety.
The last year has seen a rise in shootings on the estate with one most notable being a drive-by shooting on Hoole Road on March 22 which left a man with life-changing injuries.
READ: Woodchurch shooting victim sustains 'life-changing' injuries
The attacks carried out by Woodchurch OCG are said to be part of an ongoing feud between them and their rival gang known as “The Ford” gang on the Beechwood estate.
Community Police Inspector Alan McKeon told the Globe: “Woodchurch has some historical crime issues. Over the last three or four years, gang-related violence has become more prominent there including the use of firearms as part of factional disputes.
“When I came into this role 16 months ago it became a priority - these disputes are ongoing and involve people using firearms in anger with each other. There are innocent people like Olivia Pratt-Korbel and Rhys Jones who get caught in the crossfire of these people.
“The fire discharge back in March on Hoole Road was in the early evening, it was daylight, and there were people in the street including a child over the road who saw what happened.
“For me, the reason why I wanted the Woodchurch to be a priority is because I don’t want anything like that to happen here.”
Recently the Globe reported on the proactive policing operation carried out by officers on the estate.
READ: Police operation targets gangs on Woodchurch estate
Launched 12 months ago, the operation has carried out high visibility patrols to gather information and used criminal behaviour orders, gang injunction applications, land searches and stop and search powers to protect the public from organised crime groups.
During a disruption day organised as part of Operation Presley, on Thursday, December 15, the force arrested three people, carried out 11 stop searches, and seized class A and B drugs.
Inp. McKeon said: “We’ve made significant strides over the last 12 months since starting this operation.
“The same issues have been prominent for decades on that estate. Most of the firearm discharges that we see is to do with rival infractions and organised crime.
"You can look at your current organised criminality picture and you can put them all in prison or on a gang injunction but what’s going to happen to the level below them? There’s always somebody willing to step up from the younger generation.
“I wanted to look at the legacy issues on the estate and the feeder schools going into that estate and what are we doing with kids who are primary school age and who are potentially the next organised criminals.
“The cultural issues on that estate that have led to people picking up guns and being involved in organised crime are still going to exist so we need to look at what we can do to prevent that.”
Since its launch, 136 stop searches have been carried out, 64 arrests have been made, and 12 knives and one firearm has been recovered. Merseyside Police said a “substantial” amount of class A and B drugs have also been seized and over £10,000 cash pocketed under the proceeds of crime act.
Inp. McKeon said: “These people are involved in cannabis cultivation and supply of Class A drugs and that is where a lot of the money is coming from.”
Since the launch of Operation Presley, Merseyside Police has worked with Wirral Council to introduce a public spaces protection order (PSPO) on the estate to help tackle antisocial behaviour and crime.
READ: Protection order put in place on Woodchurch estate
The order, which came into force on Monday, December 19, will be in place for three years and covers the area in and around Hoole Road shops.
The PSPO bans anyone from consuming alcohol in any public place within the restricted area. It also prohibits the use or possession of other substances, including ‘legal highs’, nitrous oxide, or other drug-related paraphernalia.
The order also prohibits racing any bikes, scooters, or wheeled vehicles at a dangerous speed and people covering their faces for any other reason than on medical or religious grounds.
Between the hours of 3pm and 10pm each day, any person in any open public space in the restricted area who is in a gathering of two or more people must leave when required to do so by police or authorised officers.
The order comes after people living on the estate have expressed their concerns for their safety.
Inp. McKeoen added: “Within this estate, because there have been firearms discharges, it’s understandable that there is fear amongst the community. When you’ve got the illicit use of firearms in that fashion and the potential for someone to be caught in the crossfire the fear in the community is significant.
“Really the community knows who are dealing the drugs and they’re aware when these attacks are targeted and who’s involved.
“However, it doesn’t do anything to address the fear. You’ve got innocent people there.
“Because of firearms discharge there’s a veil of silence that occurs on Merseyside anyway certainly when you use firearms - people are frightened to offer intelligence and information to the police in fear of becoming a victim themselves
“An intelligence flow from the community has increased and I like to think that’s come in part because the community is sick of this.”
Anyone who witnesses antisocial behaviour or knows who is responsible should contact via DM @MerPolCC or anonymously CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel