On Friday I attended the regular meeting between MPs, Police & Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell and the Merseyside Police Chief Constable. It is a good opportunity to raise issues from the constituency and to be briefed on how the police are performing and what the main issues are for them currently.

I was pleased to hear that the police are doing well meeting their KPIs and, in the case of emergency response, are beating their targets. Detection rates are up from the last full year on record and there is a downward trend in serious violence, firearm discharges and domestic burglary, making Merseyside Police one of the best forces in the country. These are some of the best statistics across all UK forces, though there is as always still work to be done in some areas.

I raised the recent rash of ASB under the bridge in Garston and ASB around the Morrisons site in Speke which I have been leading efforts to stamp out. Amidst the measures that have been put in place there have been a number of arrests and I look forward to receiving details on charges and prosecutions of those who have been picked up by the police. I will be in Garston later in the month to help launch their Crimestoppers campaign and will also be convening another meeting of stakeholders in April to hear updates on work being done.