Dispersal order issued in Liverpool city centre after teenager found with knife
Extra officers are patrolling the area after a spate of anti-social behaviour reports
A dispersal order covering Liverpool city centre has been introduced by Merseyside Police following reports of anti-social behaviour, including an incident in which a teenage boy was found carrying a knife.
The order came into force at 10:30pm on Wednesday 19th August and remains in place until 10:30pm on Thursday 20th August 2026.
What happened
Chief Inspector Christopher Ruane said a 16-year-old boy from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon the night before the order was introduced.
He said the boy was chased into a McDonald's on Lord Street by a group of youths, and that officers who later searched him found a knife in his jacket.
"There have been several reports of antisocial behaviour in our city centre this week," Chief Inspector Ruane said.
"Last night a 16-year-old boy from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon after he was chased into McDonalds on Lord Street by a group of youths. Officers later searched the boy and found a knife in his jacket," he said.
"Knives have no place in our communities and can have tragic consequences, not only for the victims of knife crime but also for the offenders involved. Due to such incidents we have issued a dispersal order to prevent any further offences in the area," he said.
Where the order applies
The zone covers a wide area of the city centre, including Princess Parade, William Jessop Way, Waterloo Road, Paisley Street, Great Howard Street, Leeds Street, Byrom Street, Hunter Street, Islington, Brunswick Road, Low Hill, Hall Lane, Towerlands Street, Irvine Street, Mount Vernon Road, Grove Street, Oxford Street East, Smithdown Lane, Crown Street, Upper Parliament Street, Parliament Street, Queens Dock, Waterloo Road and the waterfront area.
It also includes Liverpool Lime Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool Central, James Street and Moorfields railway stations.
What the order means
The order has been authorised under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour and Policing Act 2014.
This gives police officers and police community support and traffic officers the power to direct anyone they suspect is causing, or likely to cause, crime or anti-social behaviour to leave the area and not return for up to 48 hours.
Under the legislation, officers also have the power to seize any item, including vehicles, used in anti-social behaviour.
Anyone who returns to the area after being directed to leave would be committing an offence, for which they could be arrested, Merseyside Police said.