Southport Local Policing Team visited victims of recent criminal damage and anti-social behaviour

Officers from the Southport Local Policing Team based at Southport Police station, visited some of the victims of the recent criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in the Marshside and Crossens areas last night, 22nd October. Others were spoken to on the telephone.

A spokesperson from Southport Police said: "We were not able to visit all the people we wanted to due to other incidents requiring responses, but the areas suffering the issues were patrolled, as the map attached shows. We will aim to visit more people affected by the issues over our next duties. The areas will continue to be a patrol priority for the coming weeks."

"Although the firework season does, of course, always increase calls for service, a focus will remain on the areas affected to reduce these incidents. Last evening we also ensured that some offensive graffiti was removed and delivered letters to the parents of two local boys who have been involved in some of the anti-social behaviour. This is not to be seen as the full response to the issues. It is part of the anti-social behaviour response, which escalates if the behaviour continues. We even spent time bagging up fallen apples so they couldn't be thrown at properties. (If you have trees that drop fruit, please can you collect the fruit up and put it out of the way?)"

"Where incidents of crime take place such as damage to cars etc, these incidents must always be reported to us on 999, 101, or social media as detailed in the attached images. Whilst incidents which may appear at first to have been un-witnessed may initially just receive a crime number, Local Policing Team Officers will follow up each incident to see if enquiries can find witnesses or CCTV and so that all incidents in the area can be viewed as a whole, rather than isolated incidents. Your calls are important to us. Please report all incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour."

"To this end, we will also be doing letter-drops in key areas affected by the issues, to see if other residents have been affected who have not contacted us so far. These will take place in the next week. We will also be liaising with local councillors, schools and other agencies to help reduce the issues."

"Finally, if you have any information on those responsible for the incidents of damage to property and anti-social behaviour in the area, please report it to us via the channels attached or when you see us on patrol in the areas. Alternatively you can report anonymously on Crimestoppers at https://crowd.in/7phjm1 or on 0800 555 111.

Working together as a community we can and will cut crime and anti-social behaviour."