Police have been given additional powers to search people suspected of involvement in criminality or disorderPolice cordon on Kirkby road as man’s body found
Police have introduced a Section 60 Order following the unexplained death of a man in Kirkby. The order gives officers additional powers to search people suspected of involvement in criminality or disorder.
The order was introduced by police at 5pm today (Saturday, June 27) and is in place until 4.59pm on Sunday, June 28.
An investigation was launched after a man in his 30s was found dead in the street. Officers were first made aware of the incident at around 12.50pm after the force received a report from the North West Ambulance Service that a man in his 30s had been found dead.
Merseyside Police has put a cordon in place on Kersey Road and around parts of Broad Lane in response to the incident. His death is currently being treated as “unexplained” whilst enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
The man’s death is being treated as unexplained as enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened.
The focus of the emergency services’ attention appeared to be outside a row of terraced houses at the corner of Kersey Road and Broad Lane.
An eyewitness told the ECHO that a friend of theirs had found the man in the street with “facial injuries”. They also alleged that the man did not have shoes on.
Police on Broad Lane in Kirkby today(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Another witness who lived near the cordon told the ECHO that she saw “a man lying on the floor”.
Police forensic teams could be seen working inside the cordon and a number of detectives have begun making CCTV and witness enquiries.
The area in the S60 order is bounded by and including the M57, up to the Maghull area, including the industrial estate but not the Field Lane side of the M57.
It also includes an authorisation to stop any pedestrian, male or female of any ethnicity, between the ages of 16 to 45, and search him/her or anything carried by him/her for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments.
To stop any vehicle and search the vehicle, its driver and any passenger for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments.
If in the course of a search under this section the constable discovers a dangerous weapon or an article which s/he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be an offensive weapon, he or she may seize it.
Chief Inspector Christopher Bland said: “This order is not designed to disrupt those who live on Kersey Road or people in Kirkby or who are behaving in a lawful manner. It will instead be used to help keep everyone safe from those involved in criminality, and ensure that people who live in the area are protected from any disruption.
“I hope that the increased presence of our officers in Kirkby this evening is reassuring, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to those officers.
“Our officers will be there to maintain public order, prevent and detect crime, protect life and property, and ensure the safety of all of our residents.
“Where individuals are carrying any dangerous weapons, we will take appropriate and proportionate action.”
Anyone with information about the incident that happened earlier this afternoon on Kersey Road should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information here. Or by calling 101, quoting log 513 of Saturday, 27 June.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here.