A man was slashed in the face during a large-scale disturbance near Anfield, police have confirmed. The incident took place at the junction of Oakfield Road and Walton Breck Road in Anfield.
Incident Details
Police were called to the scene just before 1pm on Friday, June 12. Medics treated a man with facial injuries at the scene before he was taken to hospital for further treatment. A video widely shared on social media shows a large group of men involved in the attack, some using metal poles as weapons. The footage depicts two groups throwing punches, with several people attempting to intervene. A police officer can be seen trying to separate those involved, and another officer arrived moments later to disperse the group.
Arrests and Police Response
Officers have recovered a number of weapons from the area. Five men, aged 19 and 20, from Buckinghamshire, Wigan, and Galway, have been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 wounding with intent, affray, and possession of a bladed article. They remain in police custody for questioning.
A dispersal order has been put in place until 1:15pm on Saturday, alongside a Section 60 stop and search authorisation active until 2:15pm the same day. Both measures will be kept under review. A heightened police presence will remain in the area to provide reassurance and deter further crime.
The orders cover a wide area including Priory Road, Breck Road, Breckfield Road North, Robson Street, Sleepers Hill, Anfield Road, Walton Lane, and surrounding streets within the designated boundary. Police said the measures were introduced in response to reports of disorder and criminal activity causing concern within the local community.
Legal Powers
The dispersal order, issued under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, gives officers powers to direct individuals suspected of causing harassment, alarm, or distress to leave the area and not return for up to 48 hours. Officers may also seize items, including vehicles, linked to anti-social behaviour. Failure to comply can result in arrest.
The Section 60 order, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, provides enhanced stop and search powers to reduce the risk of further serious violence.
Police Statement
Superintendent Kris Le Poidevin said: "Such disorder will not be tolerated on Merseyside, and our officers were quickly at the scene and made a number of arrests to restore order in the area. There will be a highly visible police presence in the area to robustly deal with any issues and provide reassurance so that no one is subjected to such behaviour."
"We have proactively put the Section 60 Order and Section 34 Dispersal authorities in place to provide us with the powers needed to stop and search people, and to remove those causing issues from a designated area. These additional powers are not about bothering anyone going about their daily business or preventing people from meeting up with friends. It’s simply about taking action to reduce intimidation, anti-social behaviour, and violence and make sure that everyone can feel safe."
