Merseyside gun crime victims remembered

Families affected by deadly gun violence in Merseyside mark the third anniversary as they demand continued action and courage to confront crime.

Parents of Merseyside gun crime victims speak out three years on

Three years after Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed in her Dovecoat home, the tragedy remains a touchstone for families in Merseyside. Olivia, nine years old, died on 22 August 2022 after a gunman chased a rival into her house. The incident came in the same week as two other fatal shootings in the city, heightening fear and prompting calls for safer streets.

Police later launched Operation Evolve, funded by the Home Office, to disrupt criminal networks and rebuild trust in affected neighborhoods. Community leaders and families have welcomed the program for disrupting crime and improving safety, while stressing that the work is far from finished. Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, and Elle Edwards’s father, Tim Edwards, have spoken about the ongoing pain and the need for people to come forward with information to prevent further tragedies. Officials say the deaths sent shock waves through the community, but progress is being made through collaboration and sustained effort.

The piece highlights a delicate balance between policing and community trust. Investments in crime reduction can yield real safety gains when paired with transparent reporting and sustained dialogue with residents. Yet political and budget questions surround funding for policing programs like Evolve, and critics worry about potential overreach or uneven outcomes. The anniversaries can mobilize support, but they also reopen old wounds. The challenge for Merseyside is turning sorrow into durable action that feels fair and effective to all neighborhoods.

Looking forward, the future of public safety will depend on ongoing accountability and clear results that communities can see. Evolve offers a path forward if it continues to engage residents, protect vulnerable groups, and deliver tangible reductions in harm, not just promises. Trust, after all, is the oxygen of safety, and it must be earned each day through action that communities can witness and believe in.

Highlights

Progress on safety rests on continued trust and concrete, transparent results.