Merseyside Police has introduced a Section 60 Order in Stockbridge Village as part of an increased police presence in the area following a firearms discharge.
At around 7.20am, armed officers were called to Boode Croft to reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, a man on his 30s was found with leg injuries and was taken to hospital for assessment. He is in a stable condition.
A cordon remains in place while officers carry out the early stages of an investigation, which will include CCTV, forensic and house-to-house enquiries. Evidence has been found to confirm that shots were fired.
The Section 60 Order will be introduced from 4pm until 3.59pm tomorrow, Friday 27 March. It covers all roads and cul de sacs contained within it and bordered by the M57 and Deysbrook Lane, Princess Drive, Finch Road, Finch Lane, Liverpool Road, Knowsley Lane, Stockbridge Lane, Waterpark Drive, Haswell Drive, and Mab Lane.
The order gives officers additional powers to search people who are suspected of involvement in criminality and disorder, with conditions as follows:
(a) to stop any pedestrian, male or female, of any ethnicity, between the ages of 16 to 45, and search him/her or anything carried by him/her for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments;
(b) to stop any vehicle and search the vehicle, its driver and any passenger for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments;
(c) if in the course of a search under this section the constable discovers a dangerous instrument or an article which s/he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be an offensive weapon, s/he may seize it.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Dave Hassett said: “This order is part of extensive work happening in the area following the shooting this morning. We understand the concern that gun crime causes in our communities so will use all our available powers to disrupt criminals, and to reassure and protect people who live, work and visit the area.
“Vital to this work is information to assist the investigation, so please come forward if you know or have captured any images or footage.”
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk using X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by calling 101 quoting incident reference 26000239712.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously. In an emergency always call 999