A 10-year-old boy was held at knife-point by a gang as they attempted to steal his bike.
The schoolboy was targeted in Nanny Goat Park, in St Helens, on Thursday, March 4.
Officers said the boy was approached by a group of youths at about 6.30pm and one of them threatened him with a knife as they attempted to steal his pedal bike.
The "extremely shaken" boy found his bike later and was uninjured.
Police have condemned the incident.
Detective Inspector Leanne Hobin said: “It is shocking to think that a child can be threatened in this way in a park.
“Knife crime can and does cause catastrophic consequences and it is through good fortune that this incident didn’t end serious injury or worse. We are pursuing all available lines of enquiry to find those responsible for the incident and ensure they are dealt with.
“We devote significant resources and regularly conduct targeted operations across Merseyside to rid our streets of the scourge of knife crime, as well as going into schools to educate young people.
“I would urge anyone thinking about carrying a knife to think again. Spare yourself and others the risk of serious injury, and the anguish it brings to relatives, and save yourself from time in police custody.
“It is just not worth the risk. Every day we are out on patrols, conducting stop searches, executing warrants, putting every effort into arresting offenders and putting them before the courts.
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"We also search land and homes where we believe knives have been stored and if you involve yourself in knife crime, it is only a matter of time before you end up hurt or arrested.”
You can pass information on about knife crime via the police social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook or call the independent charity @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also contact them via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
