Recommendations, Merseyside Police, August 2025
Published
25 Nov 2025
Learning
IOPC reference
2021/156271
Date of recommendation
Date response due
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that Merseyside Police takes steps to ensure that investigators and their supervisors regularly review and document:
- Their decision to arrest or not to arrest, clearly for all investigations including firearms offences.
- Their decision and rationale as to if the case is ready or not to be submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service either for early investigative advice or a charging decision.
The IOPC recommends that Merseyside Police takes steps to ensure that in investigations in relation to firearms offences, investigators and supervisors are strongly encouraged to seek early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
This is so that all relevant evidence can be assessed and the evidential enquiries necessary for a charging decision can be identified and documented as soon as practicable.