WIRRAL's police superintendent says the fight against organised crime is being won but is far from over.

Supt Matthew Moscrop said the last 12 months had been positive with a fall in the use of guns, knife crime and bike thefts, but he also urged the public to continue to play its part in helping reduce crime.

He also gave an update on developments in the murder of Elle Edwards.

In an interview at Manor Road Police Station in Liscard this week, Supt Moscrop told the Globe: "We look at 2023, we had a good year compared to the year before.

"When you look at the incidents in 2022, particularly around firearms and the gang activity, we went a whole calendar year without any firearms being discharged in Wirral, which is fantastic but we won't rest on that one.

"We know there are still firearms out there. So we're still very focussed on that one to prevent any return to what was going on there.

"It's also been a better picture in terms of inquisitive crime; few robberies, fewer burglaries and vehicle crime is down.

"Hopefully, we'll have good news again in the year ahead, but we'll monitor that. One of the common themes are theft of bikes and motorbikes for use in robberies. 

"We've done a lot of work to target this, for example the bike register scheme, where we can mark up and register bikes to increase the chance of people getting their bikes back if stolen.

"We do events all across Wirral to give people the chance to secure their bikes. That's been really good and is an example of where we try to focus on prevention, not just responding to stuff."

Wirral Globe: Wirral superintendent Matthew Moscrop Wirral superintendent Matthew Moscrop (Image: Merseyside Police)On the bike safe events' success, Supt Moscrop - who was born on Wirral and lives in the borough - said: "There are a smaller proportion of theft offences that involve bikes, but there is still a way to go.

"I think whilst bikes can be so expensive, some are really expensive and will be an attractive target. Motorbikes are also being targeted on Wirral.

"Another thing that is going is longer-term work to tackle organised crime. As part of the Evolve work there were some participatory budgeting events recently, with nearly £67,000 given out to community groups to tackle organised crime-related issues on estates."

Supt Moscrop gave an update on recent events as part of ongoing investigation into the murder of Elle Edwards.

Connor Chapman, 23, was found guilty last July of murdering the 26-year-old beautician when he fired a Skorpion submachine gun outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey, shortly before midnight on December 24, 2022.

Supt Moscrop said: "There was the initial trial with the convictions last year and four people are going through court at the moment for offences in relation to assisting offenders, so we will see what comes of that. 

"The fact is, as part of the investigations, information always comes available which will support other work that goes on, but in relation to Elle Edwards' murder we've had the main trial and the focus is now on the recent arrests ahead of their trial later this year."

He continued: "I can reassure people that the offenders were caught, convicted and got significant sentences.

"It shows the resources, time and determination to get things right. The fact that there are further charges following through, again shows our focus on that one.

"I'll come back to the fact that we've had a calendar year - 2023 - without a single firearms discharge on Wirral, when we had seven or eight the previous year.

"That is really good and it's not just down to the police. It's the fact that, because of how horrific those events were, people are more to speak to us and share information with us and they that we'll do what's required."

Re-iterating the importance of community engagement, Supt Moscrop ended: "We want people to keep talking to us and let us know what's going on and actually identify those things which happened before so people may get drawn into that life.

"We can work with the council, youth offending services and different groups to help steer people in the right direction, because there's a real focus on tackling organised crime.

"I'm happy with the direction of travel of what's gone in crime prevention, but I just want it to be better. I don't want peoples' lives affected by anti-social behaviour, don't want people being victims of violence or having their possessions taken. 

"We will always do what we can. We know there are things that will happen in society to which we have to react but, as much as we can we want to prevent and get involved at the earliest stage."