PCC statement following fatal shooting of nine-year-old girl

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Merseyside's Police Commissioner has released a statement following the tragic news a nine-year-old girl was fatally shot last night and a woman was stabbed to death in a separate incident.

Emily Spurrell said: "Yesterday morning Liverpool woke to hear the devastating news that a nine-year-old girl and a woman had been murdered.

"Any murder is horrendous but the death of an innocent nine-year-old girl in this way is unthinkable. My heart goes out to the families and friends and all who knew and loved them and the pain that they will be feeling right now.

"Sadly, these fatalities follow two other murders with guns in Liverpool in the past week.

"The city is rightly outraged that another innocent young girl has lost her life. The city will do what it always does and unite to support those who are grieving and call for an end to the violence.

"Yesterday was 15 years ago to the day since the senseless murder of 15-year-old Rhys Jones. Liverpool ‘united’ took a stand against gang violence then and the city is now a very different place. We have seen the lowest number of firearms discharges in 21 years and Merseyside Police is relentless in their pursuit of those who seek to cause harm on the streets of Merseyside.

"But this is a very real reminder of how much more we still need to do to end the scourge of gun violence in our city. We must all come together to help get firearms off our streets. The police cannot tackle this issue on their own, we must work with our partners and, importantly, the community to identify where these weapons are being held and who is responsible.

"I have already met with the police, local representatives and community groups as part of a comprehensive reassurance plan. We further need to step up partnership working and take a multi-agency approach to this pressing issue.

"I would appeal to anyone who has information about who might be responsible or who else might be harbouring weapons to please come forward. If not to the police, then via Crimestoppers or our community partners.

"It is on all of us to create a city safe for our children."

Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of 22nd August.