Publish date: 5 December 2024

As part of ongoing work to tackle serious and organised crime in Merseyside, police and partners held an event this week for young people.

The ‘Dear Merseyside’ event took place on Wednesday, December 4 at the Odeon Cinema in Liverpool and 120 schoolchildren attended to hear about the work of EVOLVE which is helping to shut down criminal gangs and strengthen areas that have been worst affected by their activity, which is where the children who attended live and go to school.

Since the launch of the EVOLVE projects there has been a significant drop in crime in all the areas, a total of 2939 arrests made and lengthy custodial sentences handed to offenders across Liverpool, Knowsley, Wirral and Netherton. EVOLVE Everton will be launching in the New Year.

EVOLVE is Merseyside’s response to the Home Office’s Clear, Hold, Build strategy which is a multi partnership approach to improve communities identified as being worst affected by serious and organised crime.

You can read the full story of the day and listen to Joseph Roberts a local poet recite a thought provoking message of hope for young people on Merseyside Police's website, thanks to our staff who took part in the video.