A new order that gives police greater powers to stop and search men aged 16-40 is now in operation around the whole of a district where a teenager was shot dead.
Nyle Corrigan was murdered on Thursday evening outside homes on Boode Croft, Stockbridge Village, in a "targeted ad cold-blooded" killing.
Paramedics tried desperately to save his life but their efforts were in vain.
Now, police have established a Section 60 dispersal order effectively around the whole of Stockbridge Village, which started from 3pm today.
It will run until 5am tomorrow.
The Section 60 order, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, gives police officers greater powers than normal.
Enhanced rules allows them to stop males aged 16-40 and is designed to minimise serious violence in the area.
The area is bounded at the bottom by Princess Drive then running along Seth Powell Way and the M57, then down to Deysbrook Lane before meeting again at Princess Drive.
The authorisation includes the roads at the boundary and the area and land within it.
A mobile police station has been set up on Boode Croft and high visibility patrols remain in the area.
Superintendent for Knowsley Community Policing Jennifer Wilson said: “Thankfully tragic incidents such as the murder of this young man are extremely rare.
“Our officers have made an arrest and will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of anyone involved in this incident, or indeed anyone prepared to endanger the lives of other people by carrying weapons in Merseyside.
“This Section 60 order has been introduced to give us more power to stop people in an effort to prevent any further violence.
“We regularly patrol Stockbridge Village, and I want to reassure people who live there that you will see our officers out in force in the coming days, both in uniform and plain clothes.
“They are not there to trouble responsible people going about their business and if you see us in the street or see the mobile police station, come and say hello and if you have any information or concerns, please do share that with us.
“We are here to listen and we want what everyone in the community wants – to ensure you can live and work in an environment free of criminals bringing violence to the streets.
“If you speak to us about this incident or any other criminality, we will take appropriate action.”
Detectives have arrested a 33-year-old man, from Huyton, on suspicion of murder and he will be quizzed by officers.
Police think the murder had all the hallmarks of a deliberate execution and described the killing as a "cold blooded, targeted attack on a residential street."
They added: "The people responsible for this attack knew exactly what they were doing and they need to be caught."
Anyone who has any information which could help detectives with their enquiries is asked to contact our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ quoting the reference number 20000688863. You can also upload information here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/05MP20M39-PO1
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
