Christmas message from your Police Commissioner
19.12.24 - Merseyside
Merseyside's Police Commissioner has released her Christmas message ahead of the 2024 festive season, reflecting on a challenging year, and looking forward, with optimism, to 2025.
With Christmas fast approaching, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very happy, peaceful and safe festive season.
2024 has been a very busy and challenging year for Merseyside.
The tragic events in Southport in the summer, left our region numb with grief, as we all attempted to process the awful events of July 29th. My thoughts continue to be with the families of Bebe, Elsie and Alice, as well as all of those injured and affected. I hope that the love and support you’ve felt from across our region, since that terrible day, brings some comfort. While a happy time for so many, Christmas can be the hardest time for those who are grieving.
I also want to pay tribute to the bravery and dedication of our Merseyside Police officers and emergency service colleagues who selflessly stepped up in the hours, days and weeks that followed. Their commitment to public safety, before their own, goes without question, and they are a credit to the communities they serve. Many of those officers and staff will also be working throughout the festive season, forgoing their own Christmases to keep us safe.
As we head into a new year, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and progress we’ve made in so many areas over the last 12 months.
For me, personal highlights have included uniting with 100 partner organisations and agencies, across Merseyside, to commit to tackling modern slavery and exploitation, the launch of our Youth Empowerment Scheme; with half a million pounds invested in diversionary activities and memorable experiences for 12,000 young people and marking two years since the launch of the Victim Care Merseyside hub, offering vital support to more than 88,000 vulnerable people across our region.
We continue to work hard, as a partnership to tackle Violence against Women and Girls. While we still have a long way to go, it’s pleasing to see improvements in the way Merseyside Police and their criminal justice partners are making in their response to these crimes, pursuing offenders, and offering additional support for the women affected.
There is still much to do though. Far too many women still do not have confidence in the police response or get the outcome they deserve when they do report. This is why, heading into 2025, I’m determined as ever to continue to work with our partners to make our communities safer places for all women and girls.
I also want to thank our Violence Reduction Partnership. The team can be very proud of the positive change they are making in the lives of young people and their families across Merseyside. In 2024, we passed the milestone achievement of supporting 100,000 young people, through targeted interventions, since the team began its work in 2019. That figure now stands at more than 120,000 and continues to grow. That is a staggering amount of young people receiving life changing support, helping them build safer, brighter, more positive futures for themselves, their families and communities across our region.
One of the young people supported through these projects is 10-year-old Kaitlin from Netherton Park Neighbourhood Centre, who I’m delighted has designed my Christmas card this year.
We also continue to look for ways to make more funding available for front line policing and in 2024 we were able to take some big steps in my 12-year plan to modernise and update Merseyside Police’s stations and buildings to ensure officers and staff are in the right places and best equipped to serve communities across the region.
Earlier this year, we put the iconic former headquarters building, Canning Place, up for sale which will generate money which will be used to continue to transform the police estate. We have submitted a planning application for the development of a purpose-built new police station in Newton-le-Willows and we have also made progress on plans for new police hub stations in St Helens, Wirral, and Knowsley, as well as Southport. This will all make sure our stations are fit to serve our officers and staff, so they are fit to fight crime now and into the future.
Although as a region, we have seen some horrific incidents this year, overall crime is down 15% which is what we all want to see. This means fewer people are becoming victims of crime and is testament and thanks to the hard work and professionalism of Merseyside Police’s officers and staff who are determined to drive down crime, relentlessly pursuing those who cause suffering and misery, bringing these toxic individuals to justice and keeping our streets safe.
We are moving in the right direction, but we can never be complacent, and a new year gives us an opportunity to focus on driving these numbers down even further.
While for most of us Christmas is a chance to take some time out, relax, unwind and spend time creating special memories with loved ones, for our police, and staff – and other bluelight services – their work never stops.
Their efforts allow us to enjoy time with our families knowing they are there to keep us safe.
My heartfelt thanks go to all of them.
My thanks also go to all the organisations – public, private and third sector – who I’ve worked with over the year on so many initiatives to cut crime, protect our communities and support those in need. The police cannot do this work on their own – their support is invaluable.
As I sign off, I also want to thank you for your continued support. Earlier this year you voted to re-elect me as your Police and Crime Commissioner for a second term. I’m proud to be a voice for Merseyside, to be your representative on policing and community safety issues and I will continue to stand up for our region and demand more for the people that live here in 2025. Your views are pivotal in the work we have planned for next year. Together we can continue to make a difference, contributing to safer, stronger communities right across Merseyside.
Merry Christmas and very best wishes for the New Year.