Home Office identify St Helens town centre as serious violence hotspot

Over the past few years, bars such as the Duke, Mollie's Bar, and Breeze Bar have all had their licence revoked following a number of violent and criminal incidents in the town's nightlife.

In addition to this, Merseyside Police has enforced multiple dispersal zones because of anti-social behaviour concerns in the town centre, and other serious incidents including a stabbing and weapons being brandished have also been reported.

The police have also pointed out that over the past 12 months, 608 violent crimes were reported in St Helens town centre, which suggests why Home Office analysts have identified the area as one of the "serious violence hot spots" across Merseyside.

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Serious violence hotspot

The Duke had its licence revoked after a series of criminal incidents (Image: Merseyside Police)
Following independent analysis of serious violence data, taking into account the offences committed and the likelihood of future harm, analysts funded by the government's Home Office identified St Helens town centre as a serious violence and anti-social behaviour hotspot.

Identified as one of 12 hotspots across Merseyside, these locations have been provided with Home Office funding to implement "problem solving responses to tackle the high levels of serious violence".

Police and analysts have noted that a huge factor in tackling criminality in St Helens town centre is the "effective management of the risk presented by the night time economy".

Previous funding has been used to improve lighting and CCTV coverage in St Helens town centre, along with the purchase of 'knife wands' so that security door staff can quickly detect weapons.

Clampdown on licence extensions

Maloney's was refused a licence extension following the police's objection (Image: St Helens Star)
The Home Office information came to light following a St Helens Council sub-licencing committee meeting, where Merseyside Police objected to Maloney's application to extend the bar's opening hours and alcohol licence until 5am.

With the police previously objecting to several licence extensions from Bar Forty Four on Westfield Street, Licencing Constable Nicola Ireland explained that the police will be placing "greater emphasis" on reviewing all Temporary Event Notices.

Constable Ireland said the reason for this clampdown is due to the reported rise in crime in St Helens town centre, with alcohol noted as a "contributory factor" in many serious offences.

Because of the high number of violent and alcohol-related crimes in St Helens - and a "peak period of violent offending" taking place between the hours of 3 and 5am - the police said that it is "highly likely" that it will object to any licencing extensions unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Nightlife concerns in St Helens

Several venues have closed in and around St Helens town centre in recent years (Image: St Helens Star)
In and around St Helens town centre, there are a wide variety of pubs, bars, and clubs that thrive and cater for a range of tastes.

This includes venues such as the Imperial, Cinema Bar, the Newsroom, the Townhouse, Tank Bar, the Citadel, Brickhouse Tavern, Little George Quarter, and many more.

The town also holds a Purple Flag status as a safe place to visit, but following the stop-start difficulties of the pandemic, rising bills during the cost of living crisis, closure of several venues, and reports of violent crimes, many have raised concerns about the town's nightlife.

Speaking previously to the Star, owner of the Tank microbar on Westfield Street, Paul Whittaker, said that it is a "worry" that several nightlife venues have closed in recent years.

Paul said that his bar has struggled to keep prices reasonable while managing rising bills, but admitted that there have been positive signs since the new year, with people beginning to "embrace the night life again".