A gang of kids boarded a Liverpool sightseeing bus and crashed it into a metal fence and a pile of bricks.
Merseyside Police were called after it was reported a gang of youths got onto a parked up Liverpool City Sights bus on Canada Boulevard at Liverpool waterfront on Sunday, April 2. Once they were on the bus they started the engine before abandoning it.
Police say this resulted in the bus rolling forward and crashing into a metal fence and a pile of bricks. Video footage from after the incident showed the red open-top bus mounted on the kerb with metal fencing bent around it.
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People at the scene said they saw liquid from the bus on the cobbled pavement below. The video footage has been viewed by more than 175,000 times, with people describing the incident as "GTA Liverpool".
Police have confirmed nobody was injured in the incident and enquiries are ongoing.
A spokesperson from Merseyside Police said: "On Sunday 2nd April we received a report that a group of youths had boarded a parked bus on Canada Boulevard and started the engine before abandoning it. This resulted in the bus colliding into temporary barriers.
"No reported injuries and enquiries are ongoing. Officers are investigating and anyone with any information is asked to contact police."
Officers have now put a dispersal zone in place at Liverpool waterfront following a number of incidents of assault, causing anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and robbery offences.
Community Policing Inspector Jack Woodward said: “This is an ongoing police operation, and this Dispersal Zone continues from yesterday to prevent anti-social behaviour and crime taking place. We have made several arrests in the last week, but this is a proactive stance during the Easter period to provide reassurance to the public and businesses that such behaviour will not be tolerated and we will take action.
“This Dispersal Order gives officers in the area extra powers to approach people they suspect may be there to commit anti-social behaviour or other crimes. I appeal to parents and guardians, and urge them to know where their child is, what they are up to and friends they are with.
"It is not only to stop them causing unnecessary distress to members of the public and businesses, but also for their own safety and welfare.”
Officers will be in the area to provide a visible presence and deal with any incidents. The Dispersal Zone covers the areas within, including and bounded by the River Mersey, St Nicholas Place, Chapel Street, Tithebarn Street, Great Crosshall Street, Byrom Street, William Brown Street, Lime Street, Renshaw Street, Berry Street, Great Georges Street, St James Place, Stanhope Street and Mariners Wharf.
The order comes under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour & Policing Act 2014, which gives police officers and police community support traffic officers powers to direct people they suspect are causing or likely to cause crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour to members of the public to leave a designated area and not return for up to 48 hours.
Under the legislation, officers have the power to seize any item, including vehicles, used in the commission of anti-social behaviour.
Liverpool City Sights was approached for comment.
Anyone with If you have any information can contact 101, Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with any information, with reference 859 of 2 April.
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