DETECTIVES investigating the murder of Knowsley Council worker Ashley Dale have arrested a third person.

Officers were called to an address in Leinster Road at around 12.40am on Sunday, August 21 following reports of concern for a woman at the property. Emergency services attended and found Ashley in the rear garden with gunshot wounds to her body. Ashley was taken to hospital but sadly died a short time later.

A 27-year-old man from Dovecot has been arrested on suspicion of murder and possession of a firearm. He has been taken to a police station for questioning and remains in custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said: "We have now made three arrests and extensive enquiries continue to establish the motive behind this attack, and to identify all those involved.

“Although progress is being made, I’d still like to urge anyone with information who has yet to come forward to do so as soon as possible. Please do not assume that what you know has been passed on by someone else, or that it is not significant enough to bring to our attention. I have a team of dedicated detectives who will make that assessment. Help us find justice for Ashley’s family, and for a community devastated by her loss.

“From extensive ongoing CCTV enquiries, we do know there were people walking close to the scene at the time of the offence. If this was you or someone you know, please come forward as you may, without realising, hold vital information to assist this investigation.

“Similarly, I would continue to ask taxi and delivery drivers if they were driving in the area between 12.20am and 12.40am and have dashcam footage to please contact us.”

Please submit any information you have directly with our investigation team through our online portal: Public Portal (Public Portal (mipp.police.uk). This will make sure that your information is received and acted on as quickly as possible by detectives.

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.