Woman arrested after ‘break-in’ to former Merseyside Police HQ shown on TikTok

Merseyside Police[1] have issued an update after several people broke into its former headquarters. The ECHO reported last weekend about a video[2] posted to TikTok showing an abandoned Merseyside Police station being explored. The location of the station was not immediately clear.

A spokesperson for the force at the time confirmed a number of people had broken into its old headquarters at Canning Place on The Strand in Liverpool city centre[3] on Saturday, December 30 2023.

The individuals involved entered the building following damage to the alarm system. Once alerted, patrols attended and conducted an extensive search of the building but no one was present in the building.

Merseyside Police said repairs had been made, with the force launching an investigation into the incident and a review of its security measures. Now, it has been confirmed that a 23-year-old woman from Bath was arrested on suspicion of burglary on Thursday, January 4. The woman was taken to a police station to be questioned and subsequently released on bail.

Enquiries are ongoing to discover the identity of all those involved. The force moved to its new headquarters on 15 Cazneau Street, off St Anne Street in Everton[6] in 2021. Canning Place, located next to the Liverpool ONE[7] bus station, has been vacated and is up for sale but Merseyside Police logos remain on the building.

Commenting on the incident, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Kameen said: "As a result of this incident, Merseyside Police launched an investigation and have today arrested a woman. Our enquiries continue to establish the identities of all of those involved. "While comprehensive security measures were in place, they were unfortunately breached and we are reviewing those measures to ensure they are as robust as possible.

"While Merseyside Police retains ownership of Canning Place, which is currently for sale, a considerable amount of property has already been removed from the building and this process is in its final stages."

ACC Kameen added: "As a result of this breach, we have re-introduced onsite security and regular high visibility patrols in and around the building. "Although the building is not in operational use, its security while it remains our property is of paramount importance. "Nobody has the right to enter private properties, and valuable policing resources have been diverted to protect and re-secure what was a secure building before it was broken into.

"The increased security measures we have had to bring in will have an ongoing impact on those resources, and the actions of those who broke-in will therefore have repercussions for tax-payers.

"We will not tolerate such mindless actions and our investigation will determine what, if anything, was taken and we will bring those responsible to justice."

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References

1. ^ Merseyside Police (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ ECHO reported last weekend about a video (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ Liverpool city centre (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ First picture of dad who killed his girlfriend then tried to pin blame on her (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Eye-watering sum on offer to become new Liverpool Council law chief (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
6. ^ Everton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
7. ^ Liverpool ONE (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
8. ^ Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)