A new campaign aims to ensure that visitors to Wirral's open spaces, beaches and parks during the summer have 'a safe and enjoyable time'.
The aim of 'Openspace' is to prevent serious violence and anti-social behaviour in key tourist hotspot areas, concentrating on popular parks across Wirral and along the coastal areas in West Kirby and New Brighton.
Merseyside Police are working in partnership with Wirral council, Wirral Coast Guard, Wirral Park Rangers, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and British Transport Police to ensure that the public can make the most of their open spaces and the sunshine, by preventing crime and therefore increasing their safety and the quality of life.
It will also be a chance for police to talk to local people, listen to concerns and gather intelligence, with the aim of taking further action against those committing crime, or engaging in anti-social behaviour.
Wirral Chief Inspector Tom Welch said: "Openspace will give us the opportunity to take a robust and coordinated approach to tackling those who are blighting our communities through their involvement in anti-social behaviour and serious violence issues, whilst at the same time reassuring our communities that we are committed to preventing further incidents.
"We know from our data that we tend to see an increase in the reporting of anti-social behaviour in the summer months and this can have an impact on those who like to enjoy Wirral's most popular beaches, parks, local towns, and open spaces.
"So, in the coming weeks, our communities can expect to see officers out on foot, in vehicles, on horseback and on quad bikes to make sure that people can enjoy the summer sunshine safely.
"From the work we have conducted so far, we have already received lots of positive feedback from the community and through these conversations we have been able to take direct action on concerns.
"I would therefore like to remind people that we are here to listen about their issues and encourage them to continue to come forward so we can keep taking this positive action.”
Cllr Helen Cameron, chair of Wirral Council's tourism, communities, culture and leisure committee, said: "It is important we do whatever we can to protect the quality of life of law-abiding residents who live in areas that seem to attract this level of crime and anti-social behaviour.
"By coming together on this operation and standing up for residents, not only are partners sending the message that this kind of criminality is unacceptable anywhere in Wirral, we are also looking to reassure the wider community that we can – and will – take action against it."
Anyone who has information about anti-social behaviour or other criminal activity in the community, you can contact police by sending a Direct Message to @MerPolCC, calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
