Visible Police Presence Keeps Motorcycle Thieves Away During TT Festival
A strong police presence in Liverpool helped deter motorcycle thieves during this year’s Isle of Man TT, with no motorcycles reported stolen for the second consecutive year.
Operation Needle, led by Merseyside Police, was launched to protect TT visitors travelling through the Liverpool ferry terminal. Officers also worked with Lancashire Police to support riders using the Port of Heysham, sharing intelligence to identify and target criminals operating between both ferry terminals.
Around 7,000 motorcyclists travelling through Liverpool city centre were monitored as part of the operation. Thanks to the increased security measures, no motorcycles were reported stolen while travelling to the TT ferries.
The operation focused on:
Speaking about the success of Operation Needle, Sergeant Craig Winstanley of Merseyside Police said:
“It’s great news that no motorcycles were reported stolen in Liverpool city centre for the second year running. This result reflects the hard work of our team in ensuring visiting motorcyclists, as well as those who live and work in the city, felt safe. Officers were on hand to provide advice and security equipment to help riders protect their motorcycles.”
The operation also included increased police patrols throughout the city and a highly visible police presence. CCTV monitoring pods were once again deployed at key locations across Liverpool, providing additional surveillance to help protect parked motorcycles.
