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Merseyside Police extend St Helens Section 60 search order

By Drooid · Sep 26, 2026, 11:13 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Merseyside Police Stop Searches

Merseyside Police introduced a Section 60 stop-and-search order in St Helens, England, to curb violence.
Merseyside Police also imposed a Section 34 dispersal order covering parts of St Helens.
Police arrested eight men on suspicion of weapon possession after a fight on St Helens Linkway.
The Section 60 order, set to end 2 pm on 26 Sept, was extended to 2 pm on 27 Sept.
Extra officers were deployed to patrol the designated area and reassure residents.

Summary

Police Arrest Suspect

Police arrested a 66-year-old St Helens man suspected of possessing an indecent child photograph.
The Online Child Abuse Investigation Team opened the probe after a tip on 17 August 2026.
Roads Policing Unit deployed tyre spikes at 10:15 am on 23 September 2026 to stop the car.
Detective Inspector Ian Tinsley said officers will continue targeting anyone contributing to child image abuse.
Police urge reports via @MerPolCC on X or Facebook or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

History

Historical Context

Michael Howard’s Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, passed on 3 November 1994, added Section 60 to let police conduct unsupervised stop-and-search in areas deemed at risk of violence—a response to the early-1990s rave unrest. The Home Office recorded 1,200 Section 60 deployments from 1995-2005, and Merseyside Police re-activated the power in St Helens on 26-27 September 2026.

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Merseyside Police Stop Searches

Merseyside Police introduced a Section 60 stop-and-search order in St Helens, England, to curb violence.
Merseyside Police also imposed a Section 34 dispersal order covering parts of St Helens.
Police arrested eight men on suspicion of weapon possession after a fight on St Helens Linkway.
The Section 60 order, set to end 2 pm on 26 Sept, was extended to 2 pm on 27 Sept.
Extra officers were deployed to patrol the designated area and reassure residents.

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