Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner

28/08/2026

Did you see our Live Facial Recognition van in Southport Yesterday?

Deputy Police Crime Commissioner Jeannie Bell did, and spoke to Inspector Ben Sorrell to learn first hand about how Merseyside Police is utilising Live Facial Recognition to keep our communities safe.

After uploading the deployment-specific and specially curated watchlist, the officers (and cameras) kept an eye out for wanted individuals and vulnerable missing people.

During the operation, an alert was generated for a Registered S*x Offender who was identified and stop checked by officers. Checks confirmed they were thankfully complying with all court-imposed conditions.

Officers confirmed they also dealt with a drug possession offence whilst on the deployment and received great feedback from local businesses, several of them mentioning a reduction in shoplifting and other issues during the operation.

A huge thank you to the members of public who stopped to ask some questions and engaged in some great conversation with the engagement officers, whilst getting a tour of the van!

26/08/2026

Child sexual exploitation doesn't start with violence. It often starts with manipulation, gifts, attention, lifts home, money, or offers of help.

Grooming is child sexual abuse. There are no excuses.

Together with our partners, we are raising awareness of the warning signs and taking action to protect children and young people across Merseyside.

*xualExploitation

25/08/2026

🌟We know there is a huge amount of passion, pride and community spirit in Marian Square, and this funding is a fantastic opportunity for local groups to turn great ideas into reality.

💷One of the most rewarding things about our Proceeds of Crime Fund is being able to take money away from criminals and put it back into the heart of our communities, supporting the people and organisations who are working hard to make a positive difference every day.

I’d encourage any eligible group to apply and get involved today.

Together we can invest in initiatives that bring people together, support local residents and help make Marian Square a safer, stronger and more vibrant place to live.

👇👇

💙 Could your group help make Marian Square a safer, stronger community?

💸 There's still time for community groups, charities and grassroots organisations to apply for a share of £28,000 to fund projects that tackle anti-social behaviour and strengthen the local community.

The money comes from the Proceeds of Crime Fund, turning money seized from criminals into positive opportunities for local people.

💻 To find out more and apply, email [email protected].

Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out!

24/08/2026

Today, Deputy PCC Jeanie Bell proudly joined partners to unveil the completed vibrant community graffiti mural on the Tontine car park underpass in St Helens 👏

The design aims to transform a graffiti hotspot in the town centre by bringing young people together to create a lasting piece of public artwork while helping tackle vandalism.

The project, commissioned by St Helens Borough Council was delivered by artists Powered By Hiphop and Kingsyze Graffiti.

In collaboration with youth organisations VIBE and REACH, around 80 young people took part in a series of workshops exploring the mural design and local heritage 💙

A truly fantastic piece of work which demonstrates why investing in community-led interventions matters. Through YES funding and Community Cashback funding, I support organisations including VIBE and REACH and am proud to help them continue their work with local young people and communities.

20/08/2026

🎭 A great big YES to a safe, empowering summer 🎶

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Unistar Youth & Community in Clubmoor to see the fantastic work they are doing to support young people across the area.

It was inspiring to see how they use drama, performing arts and music to help young people express themselves, build confidence and explore the issues that matter most to them and their peers.

Seeing the impact of their work reinforced just how important it is that we continue to invest in opportunities for young people. Through our Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) Fund, we are helping to break down barriers and ensure that young people, regardless of their background, can access positive activities and support in their communities.

The YES Fund is supporting projects like Unistar right across Merseyside, helping thousands of young people realise their potential, build resilience and create brighter futures. ☀️

19/08/2026

🌿 Another inspiring YES Fund visit! 🎨

Last week, we visited The Eco Therapy Garden in Kirkby, one of the fantastic projects supported through our Youth Empowerment Scheme.

It was wonderful to see how the project is using nature, creativity and positive activities to engage young people, helping them build confidence, develop new skills and improve their wellbeing. During our visit, we had the chance to meet young people taking part in an art session, painting porcelain animals and expressing their creativity in a supportive environment.

The YES Fund supports local organisations that provide positive opportunities for young people, helping to tackle the underlying causes of violence by investing in activities that build resilience, wellbeing and stronger community connections.

Thank you to everyone at The Eco Therapy Garden for showing us the incredible work you're doing to support young people across Knowsley. 💚

18/08/2026

Today I met the Independent Domestic Violence Advocates who have recently been embedded into our 999 control room, and spoke to both them and staff about how Raneem’s Law has stated to enable the organisation to deliver a better service to domestic violence survivors.

Our Contact Resolution Officers or ‘call handlers’ do an incredible and difficult job, taking thousands of calls everyday from people who might be in trouble or hurt. By installing these DA specialists, we make sure the staff feel fully confident they’re delivering the best service they can in the hardest of circumstances, and hopefully the survivors that call 999 or 101 will receive a full and comprehensive response in the best way possible, any time it’s needed.

Thank you to both the IDVAs and the call handlers who tackle such an unenviable task, with all the passion and care that’s required.

’sLaw

18/08/2026

☀️ The school holidays are always a time I look forward to, as I get to visit some of the fantastic projects supported by our Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) Fund and see the difference they're making for young people across Merseyside. 🎨⚽

Last week, I was delighted to visit The Lodge Wellness Centre in West Derby, where I met the brilliant team delivering a range of activities designed to support young people's wellbeing. 🌟

Thanks to our YES Fund, young people are taking part in everything from yoga 🧘 and pilates 🤸‍♀️ to therapeutic wellbeing sessions 💚, helping them improve both their mental and physical health in a safe, supportive and welcoming environment.

It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces 😊, growing confidence 🌈 and positive energy ✨ from the young people involved. Projects like this provide more than just fun activities during the holidays, they help build resilience, boost wellbeing and create opportunities for young people to thrive. 🚀

A huge thank you to Trish and the entire team for the warm welcome and for the incredible work you do to support young people in West Derby and beyond. 👏

Seeing the impact of these projects first hand is exactly why we invest in the YES Fund. Every visit reminds me of the dedication of the organisations delivering these opportunities and the positive difference they're making in the lives of young people across our region. ❤️

18/08/2026

This week we launched the next phase of our Dear Merseyside project, taking this powerful educational resource into schools across our region and giving thousands of young people the opportunity to reflect on the impact of violence, exploitation and the choices they make.

Dear Merseyside shows what can happen when creativity, education and lived experience come together to drive real change. Through poetry, spoken word and honest conversations, it provides young people with a safe space to explore difficult issues, find their voice and think about the future they want for themselves and their communities.

But at the heart of this project are four families whose courage is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite suffering unimaginable loss, the families of Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale, Olivia Pratt-Korbel and Elle Edwards have chosen to turn their grief into a lasting legacy that could help protect future generations from experiencing the same heartbreak. Their strength, generosity and determination to create something positive from tragedy is truly inspiring.

The impact of launching Dear Merseyside into schools cannot be overstated. If we are serious about preventing violence, we must reach young people before crime, exploitation and harmful influences take hold. We must offer hope, opportunity and positive pathways, helping them build the confidence and resilience to make positive choices and fulfil their potential.

Dear Merseyside is an investment in the next generation, empowering young people to be part of the solution and helping to create safer, stronger communities for years to come.

👀 Click the link in the comments section below to find out more about our Dear Merseyside resource. 👇

17/08/2026

Four years on from the tragic murders of Olivia, Ashley, Sam and Elle…

Since then, Operation Evolve has put away over 2600 criminals and seized millions of pounds from organised crime, reinvesting it where possible into the communities they affected.

But we cannot arrest our way out of this problem.

That’s why we’re announcing our new Dear Merseyside School Resource that will help young people think about their place within Merseyside, and what they will be willing to accept for a future.

Our thoughts especially today however, remain with Olivia, Ashley, Sam and Elle, and their families who even now stand up and say with us: “Silence is not an option.”