00:00 Merseyside Police have launched Operation Shepherd, its annual campaign to reduce crime
00:06 and keep communities safe during the festive period.
00:10 The Plaza Community Cinema in Crosby premiered the crime prevention messages.
00:14 We've got extra patrols around those high footfall areas like the Christmas market,
00:18 our night time economy is key, so that's where we're focusing our patrols.
00:24 Wellstown patrol officers will be speaking to residents and business owners to offer
00:29 crime prevention advice and tips on how people can keep themselves, their property and premises
00:35 safe.
00:36 Committing a burglary may take an offender a couple of minutes if that, but the lasting
00:40 effect it has on a victim can be substantial.
00:43 A burglar can maybe steal a bracelet or some jewellery or etc which they might sell on
00:49 for a few pounds, but the actual value that has with the victim is sentimental value.
00:55 Even when we have mobile phones being stolen, there's pictures on there of loved ones that
00:59 may no longer be here, so the lasting effect it has on victims is immense.
01:04 You can expect to see more officers out and about from now through until the new year.
01:10 This will include uniformed and plainclothes officers, supported by specialist teams including
01:15 the dog and mounted section.
01:18 So this year for the festive period we're focusing on drink and drug driving from a
01:21 roads policing point of view, but it's also Merseyside wide.
01:24 It's called Operation Limit, it's a national campaign and we'll be using loads of different
01:27 tactics to try and target them.
01:29 I mean last year for the six week period when we encapsulated the World Cup we caught I
01:33 think it was 536 drink and drug drivers and this year for the first week and four days
01:38 we're already projected to be above that limit so we could be catching in excess of 600 people
01:42 which is scary but it's a result of hopefully all the effort and resourcing that we're putting
01:46 in.
01:47 We want everyone to enjoy the festive period, of course we do, but just do it safely so
01:50 it's all about time.
01:52 If you've got drink or drugs in your system then only time will allow them to go away
01:56 and we find that a lot of people are getting caught out by not leaving enough time, particularly
02:00 for drug driving.
02:02 People need to understand that no matter what you eat, no matter how many strong coffees
02:04 you have, the limit will not go down unless it's just left with time.
02:07 So if you are going out and having a good time then please do, please enjoy it but plan
02:11 what you're doing the next day.
02:12 If you're going to be driving early the next morning you can't be drinking until late and
02:15 getting heavily intoxicated.
02:17 And the other important thing to understand is even if you're not over the limit we can
02:20 still prosecute you if you're deemed to be unfit so you've got to be aware of that.
02:23 You might actually be under the limit but you might still be unfit to drive.
02:26 A number of teams will be working together to prevent crime and identify those that commit
02:31 offences.
02:32 We know that the vast majority of people within Merseyside are good people and they just want
02:37 a good time over this festive period.
02:40 It's the small minority that we're targeting so yes if our officers are out there then
02:45 please go and say hello, they are working hard and it means a lot to them when you do
02:50 that so yes please just go and approach them, don't be alarmed, they're there to keep you
02:55 safe.
02:56 The force says they'll also continue to support and protect the most vulnerable members of
03:01 our communities.
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