Open land searches to take place across Merseyside

Specialist officers from the Matrix team will be carrying out a number of open land searches across Merseyside as part of its crackdown on serious and organised crime.

The Matrix officers will be joined by officers from Greater Manchester and Lancashire Police, and officers from the dog section, and they will be using metal detectors and other plant machinery to search for weapons and drugs.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson, said: “Over the coming days we will be carrying out extensive open land searches in the Knowsley, Sefton and Liverpool areas of Merseyside.

“We know that those involved in organised crime resort to storing their weapons and drugs in various locations and the action we are taking in the coming days is part of our activity to disrupt these criminal groups by every means possible.

“We have also asked for assistance from Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire police so that we can cover as much ground as possible, literally we will leave no stone unturned.

“Through extensive research and as a result of information we have received from our communities we have identified a number of locations which may be being used by those involved in serious organised crime.

“I want to take this opportunity to appeal to the public. If you have any information in relation to where guns or drugs are being stored, please let us know and we will take action.

“We fully understand that you may not want to speak directly to us, but may still want to help make your community safer. If that is the case I would urge you to call the independent, anonymous, Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111. We will act on all information.

Anyone who has any information which could help the police in relation to this incident is urged to contact the specialist Matrix team on 0800 230 0600, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.