Section 60 and 34 Dispersal Orders in Liverpool City Centre

The Section 60 and Section 34 Dispersal Orders were introduced at 11am and run until 1am tomorrow.

The Section 60, served under S60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, gives police officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals in the area and is designed to minimise serious violence.

The order under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, gives officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people who are engaging in antisocial behaviour or are likely to become involved in such incidents.

These powers will not be used to disperse people who are lawfully going about their business or there to visit and enjoy the city.

Search parameters have been expanded to anyone aged 12 to 70 and include Lime Street, Moorfields, Central and James Street railway stations.

Under the legislation, police have the power to seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour.

Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, for which they may ultimately be arrested.

Both orders cover the area in the map attached from the River Mersey to beyond Wavertree Botanic Gardens.

Chief Inspector Sarah Rotherham said: "These orders will give officers on the ground the ability to stop and search anyone suspected of carrying weapons or planning any criminality, and strengthen their ability to protect the community from incidents of disorder.

"The ultimate aim of this tool is to keep the public safe.

"We will continue to deploy such tactics where we believe they can help our efforts to keep people safe."

Anyone with information about criminality and disorder is asked to DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.

You can also pass information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.