Police today named the Merseyside areas that will be included in a blitz on "serious violent crime" after confirming it is extending special powers to tackle the problem.
On Wednesday police said Birkenhead and surrounding areas will be subjected to the order known as Section 60 until 4am this morning.
The powers allow police to stop and search anyone in the area they believe to be carrying weapons or involved in serious violence.
Officers said the powers wre being used due to what Merseyside Police said were "reports of serious violent crime in the area."
Today Merseyside Police confirmed it would extend the blitz using Section 60 and said two estates Beechwood and Noctorum would be among areas subjected to the stop and search operation.
The Section 60 resumed at 1pm and runs until 4am tomorrow.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "The Order, under S60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, gives officers enhanced stop and search powers in the area and is designed to minimise serious violence.
"The area covers Birkenhead North, Birkenhead town centre, Beechwood and Noctorum estates, Oxton, Claughton and Prenton."
Last year the ECHO carried a special report in which resisdents on the Beechwood estate insisted it was a nice place to live and close-knit community and just had a "bad name" after police used the special stop and search powers in November in a bid to ease tensions.
It came after a number of incidents, including reports of a man wielding a gun.
In the run up to Bonfire Night officers patrolling the estate also had fireworks thrown at them.
The estate is situated in Beechwood, Ballantyne and Bidston Village which is home to nearly 4,000 people including a large number of families.
Today many of the homes are privately owned and others are rented from different housing associations.
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The Noctorum Estate has also had problems with a gang of thugs with one family even barricading the windows of their house.
In 2014 residents described rocks being thrown through windows, fireworks aimed at the house, cars vandalised and houses pelted with eggs.
The Section 60 search area is shown on the below map.
Community policing inspector Tom Welch: "Following assaults and reports of violent crime in the area covered by this order, we have chosen to extend the Section 60 in order to help prevent further danger in the community.
“Officers will not be troubling people going about their business. If you see us in the street then please do come and say hello - and feel free to share any information or concerns you have so we can take positive action.”
