Merseyside Police
North West · Territorial force · 4,050 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
4,050
Staff
1,650
Area (sq miles)
249
Population served
1,430,000
About Merseyside Police
Covering Liverpool and the Wirral, Merseyside is known for strong community engagement and its specialist Matrix team tackling serious organised crime and gun crime.
Merseyside Police operates in the North West region of England, primarily encompassing the urban areas of Liverpool and the Wirral. This police force benefits from its strategic location, having access to vital transport corridors, including the M62 motorway, which links to major cities across the region. Additionally, its proximity to the River Mersey adds a unique operational dimension, as it engages with maritime issues and community safety across coastal areas. The force shares borders with neighboring police jurisdictions, including Cheshire and Lancashire, allowing for tailored collaborative approaches to cross-border crime.
Merseyside Police is noted for its specialist teams, including the Matrix team, which is dedicated to addressing serious organized crime and gun-related incidents. The force also includes a Cyber Crime Unit that is tasked with tackling digital offenses and ensuring public safety in an increasingly online world. Another significant unit is the Dog Unit, which supports a variety of operational duties, from public order to crime prevention.
Currently, Merseyside Police emphasizes several key operational priorities such as safeguarding vulnerable people, tackling drug-related crime, and enhancing public safety during large events. The community engagement initiatives reflect the commitment to building trust and addressing local concerns effectively. These focus areas are vital for prospective applicants or transferring officers to understand the dynamic and community-focused ethos of the force.
Current priorities
- Safeguarding vulnerable people
- Tackling drug-related crime
- Enhancing public safety during large events
Notable specialisms
Source: About Merseyside Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
4,050
Staff
1,650
Total headcount
5,700
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
adequate
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Merseyside Police is named in 4 recent IOPC investigation outcomes or HMICFRS thematic reports.
Officer under criminal investigation following M53 collision
2026-05-01 · IOPC
Independent investigation following wrongful conviction of Peter Sullivan
2026-03-27 · IOPC
Investigation following death of man in Liverpool
2026-02-17 · IOPC
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Engagement & social channels
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 4,713 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 94.7% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Controlled drugs | 3,485 |
| Offensive weapons | 556 |
| Stolen goods | 293 |
| Evidence of offences under the Act | 117 |
| Article for use in theft | 87 |
| Articles for use in criminal damage | 84 |
| (not recorded) | 72 |
| Fireworks | 11 |
| Firearms | 7 |
| Psychoactive substances | 1 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 3,551 |
| Arrest | 458 |
| Community resolution | 445 |
| Summons / charged by post | 243 |
| Caution (simple or conditional) | 13 |
| Khat or Cannabis warning | 2 |
| Penalty Notice for Disorder | 1 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
13,169 crimes recorded by Merseyside Police in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 5,121 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,552 |
| Public order | 1,204 |
| Drugs | 1,171 |
| Shoplifting | 997 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 991 |
| Other theft | 700 |
| Vehicle crime | 422 |
| Burglary | 354 |
| Other crime | 249 |
| Possession of weapons | 130 |
| Robbery | 116 |
| Bicycle theft | 95 |
| Theft from the person | 67 |
| Total | 13,169 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Merseyside Police over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Merseyside Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Merseyside Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.