Southport kids 'saved pocket money' to help officers during riots
Children saved up their pocket money to buy sweets and water which they then delivered to stricken police officers during the outbreak of disorder in Southport, Merseyside’s top officer has revealed. Hundreds of people took to the streets in violent scenes in July following the killing of three girls at a holiday club.
Almost 90 officers were hurt when crowds gathered in the seaside town in the aftermath of the deaths of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine. The total number of people arrested in relation to the violence across the region now stands at 112, with 72 charged and 55 sentenced to a combined 116 years and four months.
Anger also spilled out to County Road in Walton, where Spellow Hub was torched by rioters, and the Strand in Liverpool city centre. Speaking at a meeting of the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) scrutiny panel, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, explained the lengths the community went to in a bid to do their bit amid the discontent.
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She said: “I want to pass on my thanks to our partners and communities who stood together with us and continue to do so during this dreadful time. We had lovely tales of children saving up their pocket money and buying sweets and drinks for officers who were on the scene in Southport.
“One little boy sticks in my mind because he put those sweets and drinks into his tractor and was going up and down the street in his toy tractor distributing drinks and sweets to our officers which I know was really, really gratefully received. The treats that have come in for our dog section will probably keep them in treats until Christmas and beyond.”
Chief Constable Kennedy said the response to the outbreak of anti-social behaviour had involved “more than just policing” and paid tribute to other forces who had supported Merseyside teams with mutual aid during the “dreadful time.” She said how walking into Southport police station in the immediate aftermath of the initial outbreak of disorder to see officers receiving triage care from North West Ambulance teams had been her “hardest day of service” but had been encouraged to see that scene has since been replaced by cards of thanks from members of the community.
The Chief Constable said how on the Tuesday following the death of the three girls in Southport, 70 officers were injured, with a further 15 hurt on the following Saturday - including some from neighbouring Lancashire Police. Of those attacked, eight sustained serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion and were treated in hospital.
One officer in attendance was knocked unconscious while four police service dogs were also hurt. Chief Constable Kennedy said of those, one has had to be retired owing to the injuries sustained.
Mrs Spurrell added how she felt the response to the violence from police had been “impressive and second to none” and expressed her gratitude to officers for their effort to deal with the “horrific behaviour” seen on the streets during the summer.