CCTV network success

NEW figures show that Liverpool City Council�s CCTV network was involved in dealing with:- 3,186 incidents of crime and anti social behaviour, in 2024.

A total of 480 cameras covering large areas of the City are monitored 24 hours a day from a Central Control Room, transmitting the images along 175km of fibre optic cables.

Working with colleagues from Merseyside Police and Merseytravel, City Watch staff are able to react to incidents as they happen.

Over the last 12 months, they have been involved in dealing with the following number of incidents:-

Assaults - 557.
Thefts - 472.
Anti social behaviour - 475.
Knife crime - 203.
Domestic abuse - 186.
Missing persons - 177.
Criminal damage - 167.
Drugs - 159.
Begging / street drinking - 141.
Flytipping, littering, graffiti - 125.

Examples of success include:-

A man acting suspiciously was followed on CCTV from:- Gwladys Street to County Road, and arrested for burglary and assault on a pregnant woman
A street beggar who had stolen a mobile phone was tracked on CCTV and arrested.
A man who had stolen a purse was picked up on CCTV and intercepted by Police Officers, with the item returned to the victim before she had noticed it was missing. It emerged that the offender was wanted for 13 offences including:- burglary and breaching bail conditions.
Following a report of a man with a knife on Prescot Road, the suspect was tracked on CCTV until Police arrived, arrested him and recovered a bladed weapon.
Footage captured by the CCTV network is often used by Council teams to supply evidence in fly tipping and taxi licensing offences.
The CCTV network has also contributed to Liverpool�s success in retaining Purple Flag status over the last 14 years, in recognition of the work to make sure the City has a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night.time economy.

Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Cllr Laura Robertson Collins, said:- �Our CCTV network plays a vital role in keeping residents and visitors to our City safe. It plays a key role in our hugely successful night time economy, and is1 of the reasons why we have had Purple Flag status for more than 14 years. It not only helps prevent crimes before they happen, but provides vital evidence to secure convictions when cases come to Court. The new CCTV maintenance and development contract is vital to ensuring the network continues to be maintained at a high standard, and continues to be an important part of our community safety work.�

At a meeting on:- Tuesday, 21 January 2025, the Liverpool City Council�s Cabinet approved a new 5 year maintenance and development contract for the CCTV network.

Lib Dems win By-Election in Liverpool for the 1st time since 1997

ON 23 January 2025 a By-Election was held for Much Woolton and Hunts Cross ward following the sudden resignation of Dave Aizlewood, who represented the Liberal Democrats, owing to ill health.

The victory puts an end to Labour's 27 year By-Election winning streak. The Labour Party haven't lost a By-Election in Liverpool since the Melrose By-Election, in 1997, until now.

Cllr Carl Cashman said it's a huge moment for his party locally and added:- "It's clearer than ever now that the Lib Dems are the clear challengers to this failed Labour Party here."

In her speech Josie thanked her team, the Council staff and local people. She committed to working hard for her community and said she would now work hard holding Labour to account.

New Liberal Democrat Councillor for Much Woolton and Hunts Cross Josie Mullen said:- "It's an amazing privilege and an honour to receive the backing of the people of Woolton and Hunts Cross - this community has given so much to me, I can't wait to get stuck in and give back to them. Labour have let down so much of the City - including Woolton and Hunts Cross. It's clear Liverpool Labour are still tainted by the Anderson era and the cloud of investigations into corruption. I'm going to work hard holding Labour to account. The money wasted by years of Labour incompetence is money that should have been going back into our communities to help residents - cleaning our streets, getting potholes fixed, and dealing with problem parking."

Cllr Carl Cashman, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition, said:- "This is a huge moment for the Liberal Democrats in Liverpool. It's clearer than ever now that the Lib Dems are the clear challengers to this failed Labour Party here. I'm delighted to have Josie back on the Council; she'll work hard and do right by the people of Woolton and Hunts Cross. Across the City, the Labour Party is on notice. People are fed up with Labour here locally because they've taken voters for granted and nationally because Keir Starmer's Party keep betraying pensioners and working people."

The Liberal Democrats have won Much Woolton and Hunts Cross By-Election electing Josie Mullen to the seat.

Much Woolton and Hunts Cross Results:-

Josie Mullen - Liberal Democrats, votes:- 1011, taking:- 51.11% of the total share of the votes cast, and was elected.
Tanya Blake - Labour Party, votes:- 537, taking:- 27.15% of the total votes share of the cast.
Adam Giles Heatherington - Reform UK, votes:- 218, taking:- 11.02% of the total share of the votes cast.
Michael John Bates - Green Party, votes:- 170, taking:- 8.59% of the total share of the votes cast.
Adam Ernest Marsden - The Conservative Party Candidate 42 votes, taking:- 2.12% of the total share of the votes cast.