He is the 13th person to be arrested in connection with the disorder that erupted in Southport on Tuesday July 30
A man has been arrested in connection with disorder in Southport on Tuesday (30 July). Merseyside Police confirmed a 30-year-from Newton-le-Willows has been taken into custody to be interviewed.He becomes the 13th person to be arrested in connection with the disorder in Southport and the 39th person following disorder in Merseyside in the past week. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: “Our work to identify all those responsible for the despicable violence and aggression seen on the streets of Southport on Tuesday has made fantastic progress.
“I am pleased to say that members of the public are equally disgusted by this violence and damage and continue to come forward with images and footage. They, like us, were outraged at the destruction carried out in the heart of our communities and the sickening assaults on officers and want to see those responsible put behind bars.
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“We have seen 11 people charged in connection with the disorder, with 10 remanded in custody, and there will be more to come. If you have information about people you believe were involved, please contact our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre. You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.”
Eleven men and a 14-year-old boy have so far appeared in court in connection with a series of disturbances across Merseyside. Violence has flared up in Southport, Liverpool city centre and Walton over the past week.
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Police vans were set alight and officers were attacked during protesting on St Luke’s Road in the seaside town on Tuesday last week, which came following the fatal stabbings of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. A planned protest at the Pier Head on Saturday afternoon then turned violent, with Merseyside Police forced to use riot gear after bricks and debris were thrown towards PCs.
The disorder then continued on County Road that evening as chaos, violence and destruction ensued as looters targeted businesses in the area. This included a fire being started at Spellow Library and Community Hub.
Three of the 12 defendants who appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today, Monday, were charged with violent disorder in relation to events in Southport. Derek Drummond, of Pool Street in the town, pleaded guilty to this charge and an additional count of assaulting an emergency services worker.
Gareth Metcalfe, of Cambridge Gardens in Southport, did not indicate a plea to the charge of violent disorder. The 44-year-old was remanded into custody ahead of an appearance before the crown court on the same date.
John O’Malley, also of Cambridge Gardens, however pleaded guilty to this charge. The 43-year-old – who claims that “his involvement was standing in a group of people shouting and gesticulating, but not throwing objects, damaging property or assaulting anyone” – will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on August 29, being remanded into custody until this date.
