We went to area of Merseyside where people are too scared to go out after 5pm

'There's that many of them, they'd get you as a mob'

18:35, 21 May 2026

Paul Summers said his mum is too scared to go shopping after 5pm because of the behaviour(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Residents in an area of Merseyside say they are scared to go out after 5pm because of what gangs of youths are getting up to. Merseyside Police was called to Marian Square in Netherton[1] yesterday (Wednesday, May 20), to reports groups of youths have been intimidating and threatening people in the area. One teenage boy, aged 15, was arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace and taken home by the force.

Police said recent incidents have left businesses and residents "in fear" and officers have now been given[2] extra powers in the area.

A 48-hour dispersal order, which started at 7pm on Wednesday will run until 6.59pm tomorrow (Friday, May 22).

David Latham, 65, told the ECHO how yesterday he left his house to go to the shops in the evening for the first time in a while and immediately regretted his decision. He said: "When I got near the shops there were about 60 kids and five policemen blocking the whole pavement. It's frightening and I think it's people coming in from other areas that are causing the trouble because I didn't recognise many of the faces.

"In this area there's always been gangs and I've been experiencing harassment around here for about 30 years.

I've got a box of broken car mirrors in my house from how many times they've been kicked in.

"One generation grows up and the next one just replaces them but they're getting younger. There's kids as young as 10 involved but you still feel like you can't do anything about it because there's that many of them they'd get you as a mob.

"The issues used to happen more in the streets but now it's more towards the shops and it's definitely getting worse. I hate living around here because I don't feel safe.

They ride their bikes straight at you to get a reaction out of you so they can start kicking off."

Merseyside Police were called to Marian Square yesterday(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Some residents were too scared to be identified because they felt they'd be targeted by the youths. A woman who has lived in the area for 35 years told the ECHO: "It's been the worst year for gangs since I've lived here. It's really, really bad and I think the police's hands are tied because there's so many of them."

She described the behaviour of some children as "feral" with them fighting, stealing bikes, smashing up bus stops and phone boxes, and banging on the shutters of shops.

She said: "It's always been bad in this area but since September it's gotten a lot worse and the kids involved are as young as 10.

"It's putting people off shopping at night and all the shops are quiet in the evening now. My kids tell me to stay in and they've told me they're worried about me living here but I'm not going to let everything that's going on dictate where I go."

The resident explained how she doesn't think the anti-social behaviour is because of the children being bored. She said: "If they had a youth club they'd just wreck it or burn it down.

It's sad because it's become the norm now."

Paul Summers, 58, has lived in the area his whole life and explained how his mum is scared to go to the shops after 5pm because that is when the gangs of youths start congregating.

Paul Summers said his mum is too scared to go shopping after 5pm because of the behaviour(Image: Liverpool Echo)

He said: "They're coming in from other neighbourhoods and they've got no respect for the locals or the area.

"They all stare at you and it's not because they've got nothing to do because there's the NAC (Netherton[3] Activity Centre) and all the fields. It's a shame to see what's been happening because it's a really close knit community.

"I think the police are doing their best and we've got good councillors who are also trying, but it's the kid's parents who are to blame."

Another resident told the ECHO: "Anyone who makes eye contact with them is a target and it's like Lord of the Flies the way they just go for you, it's disturbing.

"Whatever is going on is getting heightened all the time and the way they're targeting people is terrifying. Racism is getting worse and you know they've all got weapons on them.

We're all dreading when it gets hotter because currently on any given night there are groups of at least 30 kids.

"I don't recognise them and I know they're not from around here because I've seen some of the kids causing trouble getting dropped off and picked up by their parents. It's not a horrible area and not all the kids here are horrible, so it's just sad that it's been allowed to get like this."

Stephen Whittaker, 73, has lived in the area since 1960 and said he hasn't been affected by the anti-social behaviour. He told the ECHO: "I haven't seen much of it because it all happens after 5pm and I'm never out then because you shut your door and that's just the way of life.

Stephen Whittaker said he's not been personally affected (Image: Liverpool Echo)

"You wouldn't go through the park when it starts to get dark but I've not experienced it on my street which is very quiet.

"I've seen it all living here for so long but it's like the boundary of respect with the police has just completely gone.

The kids have no respect and don't take any notice of the police, they just look at them so I don't know what's going to happen after the 48-hour dispersal order that would change anything."

One woman who works in the area told the ECHO how she sold her house and moved to get away from the anti-social behaviour. She said: "We lived by the park and kids would constantly throw stones at my house. My husband was threatened and the police were there every other night.

"My daughter's 12 and she was scared to walk to school which is another reason why we moved.

She's home schooled now because she's terrified of how feral the kids seem to be."

A shopkeeper told the ECHO about the stress the gangs of youths have been causing him. He said: "They mess around in the whole square. They push the doors, touch the stock and are always misbehaving.

"They stare at people, waiting for a reaction and when you leave the shop they start circling and teasing you.

It's really stressful."

The shops in Marian Square is where most of the trouble is happening (Image: Liverpool Echo)

A married couple who've lived in the area for 50 years said they've seen a sizable change from when they first moved in. One said: "There's no deterrent and they're just always shouting and riding about on those electric bikes taunting the police. It's just horrible."

The other one added: "We like where we live and it suits us but we can see it going downhill each week.

When our kids were in school there was none of this and if you even saw a police van you'd be terrified.

"We don't really come to the square so we probably don't see the extent of the issue but we want to be hopeful. We'd like to see it change and it could because there's lovely people here and it's a really nice community. Not everyone here is a scally."

The dispersal order comes under Section 35 of the anti-social behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support traffic officers the power to direct people they suspect are causing, or are likely to cause, crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour to members of the public to leave a designated area and not return for up to 48 hours.

Should a person who has previously been directed to leave the area return, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for.

The dispersal zone covers the areas within, including and bounded by Marian Way, St Oswald's Lane, Peterborough Drive and Eden Vale.

On Wednesday, Inspector Phil Cowin said: "This dispersal order is a response to recent incidents, including groups of youths intimidating and threatening people in the area, which I know from speaking to people tonight (Wednesday) has led to businesses and residents being in fear.

We will support them and use all available powers to tackle these issues in our communities. Officers will stay in the area to provide reassurance to businesses, visitors and residents alike.

"We can't do this work alone, so I also want to take this opportunity to remind parents and guardians of the importance of knowing where your child is and what they are up to. No parent wants a knock on their door from a police officer informing them that their child has been arrested or even been involved in a serious accident.

I am sure those parents and guardians would not want to be on the receiving end of such disgraceful behaviour.

"If you witness any anti-social behaviour or have any information about such incidents, please contact or speak to our officers and we will continue to take action."

Anyone who wants to report anti-social or criminal behaviour can contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Always call 999 in an emergency.

Anyone with information on anti-social behaviour in their area is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X or Facebook[4] @MerPolCC.

You can also report information via the police website: Report a crime | Merseyside Police[5] or call 101.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: Giving information | Crimestoppers[6].

In an emergency always call 999.

References

1. ^ Netherton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ officers have now been given (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ Netherton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ Facebook (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Report a crime | Merseyside Police (tracking.vuelio.co.uk)
6. ^ Giving information | Crimestoppers (tracking.vuelio.co.uk)