A teenager was arrested this week after police said he was found with a knife and cannabis near a busy train station.
The 15-year-old, from Burscough, was searched after being stopped on London Road in Southport, near the entrance of Southport Train Station. The boy was stopped on the concourse on suspicion of possession of cannabis by officers involved in Operation Spectre.
The boy was arrested and handed over to British Transport Police. Merseyside Police's Operation Spectre is an effort to reduce knife crime in Southport and Formby, with officers also checking in on how shops are in relation to following legislation around selling knife products to minors.
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Of five local shops tested in their compliance with regulations and legislation, two shops failed leading to advice being handed out and a commitment to retraining for staff. The news was shared on the Sefton Police Facebook page.
The post said: "Officers have continued with Operation: Sceptre work this week, in the Southport and Formby area, focused on reducing knife crime incidents.
"Constable Butcher led a test purchasing operation in local shops, designed to gauge compliance with store regulations and legislation over selling knife products to minors. Of five shops where test purchasing was conducted two stores failed, leading to advice being given to store management and a commitment to re-training for staff being made.
"Elsewhere a 15-year-old boy from Burscough was stopped on London street on suspicion of possession of cannabis. On being searched the boy was found to be in possession of cannabis and a craft knife. As the location of the stop was on the railway station concourse, these offences will be progressed by British Transport Police.
"Knife crime presentations continued at Range High School in Formby yesterday and will continue today again at Range High and also at Meols Cop High School, where one of our safe Schools Police Officers will be presenting the classes."
