Church Alley incident update
A vigil to remember Ava White will take place 6pm to 7.30pm on Saturday 4 December outside Vodafone and Primark on Church Street.
It has the support of Ava’s family. It is planned to involve a balloon release, speeches from Ava’s family and ‘No More Knives’ and the Radio City tower lit up in blue. Ava’s family have asked that stakeholders who wish to attend the vigil do so in an unofficial capacity.
Merseyside Police is urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or may even have filmed the incident, or who has information which could help Merseyside Police DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 with reference 0899 of 25 November.
Statement
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Ava White. The loss of a child is heart-breaking and the circumstances around this make it so shocking and brutal.
We also want to extend our thanks to the businesses and individuals in the city centre who responded so rapidly in the first few moments after the incident and have continued with their support this week. The strength and stoicism of our city continues to give us heart.
It is understandable that an incident like this has caused fear, and as Liverpool BID Company, with a responsibility in making our city centre welcoming and a place to visit, work and live, we wanted to offer an insight into the work that is done day to day to keep everyone in the city centre safe. It is central to what we do. One of the attractions and appeals of Liverpool city centre is that it is a place for everyone. Everyone feels like “town” is for them, whatever part of the city they are from.
There is a BID Police patrol who work with security teams and businesses, alongside Merseyside Police to gather information and reports on anti-social behaviour. This often means that businesses will tell those officers about anyone causing them concern or any incidents they have been concerned about. With CCTV, as well, that means that anti-social behaviour is regularly monitored. These reports are gathered for the police and can result in court action. We have had incidents of individuals being banned from the city centre where the courts have felt this is appropriate. They are rare, but they do happen.
We will continue to work closely with those teams and Merseyside Police and we will continue to monitor the city centre. As we have opened up more, we have seen the way we use the city centre, the times of day we are there and when it is at its busiest is shifting. This is something we’re monitoring constantly because it is our responsibility to respond to the needs of the city centre.
Our message remains to be kind to one another. Serious and violent crime continues to be a rarity, which is why incidents like this tragic case are so shocking and unsettling. Working together we will continue to keep our city centre safe.
Bill Addy
Chief Executive
Liverpool BID Company
Available support
Following the tragic incident, if you, a young person or somebody that you know need support we have collated a range of services that are available to help:
Alder Hey CAMHS – Crisis Care Team
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Crisis Care Team offer advice, consultation, and direct intervention to children/young people and their families.
Tel: 0151 293 3577
Web: alderhey.nhs.uk
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger
If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis, you can text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger for free for 24/7 support.
Text: YM to 85258
Web: youngminds.org.uk
Childline
Childline are here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through, big or small. Trained counsellors are available for a free and confidential chat anytime, day or night by phone, email or online chat.
Tel: 0800 1111
Web: childline.org.uk
The Samaritans
With a 24-hour confidential helpline. Samaritans volunteers listen in confidence to anyone in any type of emotional distress, without judging or telling people what to do.
Tel: 08457 90 90 90
Text: 08457 90 91 92
Web: samaritans.org
NHS 111
Where trained health professionals can give you health advice and information 24 hours a day.
Tel: 111
Web: 111.nhs.uk
Statements from Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police confirmed on Saturday night 27 November that all road closures around Church Alley were removed and all roads in the area reopened.
Statement from Sunday 28 November
Detectives investigating the murder of 12-year-old Ava White in Liverpool City Centre on Thursday night, 25 November, have charged a teenager this evening, Sunday 28 November.
A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with murder and possession of a bladed article and has been remanded in custody to appear at court tomorrow, Monday 29 November.
Three other boys arrested have been conditionally bailed extensive as enquiries continue.
Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs said: “We’re continuing to support Ava’s family, and they have requested that their privacy continues to be respected at this difficult time.
“It’s also vitally important as we continue the investigation that nobody posts comments or names on social media which could potentially impact upon us getting justice for Ava’s family. Please trust us that we are doing all we can to investigate and update people on this tragic incident, and we do not want anything to jeopardise this.
“We’d also urge anyone else who has captured the incident or aftermath to send any images/footage directly via the following link:
https://mipp.police.uk/operation/05MP21M43-PO1
You can pass information on with reference 21000820789 via ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ on Facebook, 101 or the independent charity @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
Statement from Saturday 27 November
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information following the murder of 12-year-old Ava White in Liverpool City Centre on Thursday night, 25 November. We are also issuing the image of a van (below), the occupants of which may have witnessed the assault.
At around 8.39pm, officers were called to reports of an assault in the area of Church Alley. When officers arrived they discovered that Ava, who had been with friends, collapsed on the ground and a member of the public who witnessed the incident was giving first aid.
Paramedics attended at the scene and Ava was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where sadly she died a short time later despite the best efforts of medical staff.
Four males – one aged 13, two aged 14 years and one aged 15 years, remain in custody for questioning.
Road closures remain in place on School Lane, Church Alley and Fleet Street as our extensive enquiries continue.
Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs said: “Our thoughts and condolences go out to Ava’s family, friends and the wider community. Ava’s family are being supported by specialist officers and they have requested that their privacy is respected at this difficult time. Merseyside Police is absolutely determined to bring those responsible to justice. Today we are also issuing new images of Ava from her family.
“We are also sharing a still image of a van which was in the vicinity of the incident and may have witnessed something vital. To be clear, we think those vehicle’s occupants are witnesses, and in no way suspected of being involved. However, we still need to speak to those people as soon as possible to confirm what information they might hold.
“We’d also urge anyone else who has captured the incident or aftermath to send any images/footage directly via the following link: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/05MP21M43-PO1
“Four males remain in custody for questioning, and a part of the city centre remains cordoned off while we continue our work. I’d like to thank the businesses and residents in the area for their patience and understanding while we make these vital enquiries.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to remind people not to make any comments on social media which might potentially jeopardise our investigation, including of course names of any people potentially involved. We welcome any such information, but please only pass it on in the following ways so we can continue to make progress in our investigation.”
You can pass information on with reference 21000820789 via ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ on Facebook, 101 or the independent charity @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
Statement from Friday 26 November
It is with great sadness that we confirm that a 12-year-old girl, Ava White, has died following an incident in Liverpool city centre last night (Thursday, 26 November).
Four males – one aged 13, two aged 14 years and one aged 15 years, all from Toxteth have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Officers were called at approximately 8.39pm to reports of an assault.
When officers arrived they discovered that Ava, who had been with friends, collapsed on the ground and a member of the public who witnessed the incident was giving first aid.
Paramedics attended at the scene and Ava was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where sadly she died a short time later despite the best efforts of medical staff.
A Home Office post mortem will be carried out to establish the cause of death.
Assistant Chief Constable Jon Roy, said: “Our thoughts and condolences go out to Ava’s family, who are being supported specialist Family Liaison officers. Their world has been torn apart and no parent should ever have to face that knock on the door from police officers to say that their child has died.
“We believe that Ava and her friends had been involved in a verbal argument which culminated in Ava being assaulted causing catastrophic injuries. And we understand that the offenders were then seen to run up School Lane across Hanover Street and on to Fleet Street.
“We have arrested four males aged, one aged 13 years, two aged 14 years and one aged 15 from Toxteth, on suspicion of murder and they are currently being interviewed at police stations on Merseyside.
“Liverpool City Centre was very busy at the time of the incident as the lights on the Christmas tree on Church Street had been officially switched on a short while earlier and we would appeal to anyone who was on Church Street who saw the incident, or may even have captured it on their mobile phone, to come forward.
“Anyone who witnessed the incident, or may even have filmed the incident, or who has information which could help us with our inquiries, is asked to DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 with reference 0899 of 25 November.
“There will be additional officers in the city over the coming days and in the run up to Christmas who will be providing visible reassurance to those who live, work and visit the city.
“Ava’s death should be a reminder to us all about the part that we each have to play in eliminating violence against women and girls.
“Ava died on White Ribbon Day which is a global campaign to end violence against women, and yesterday partners from around the city joined together to mark the day, which is also the start of 16 days of activity designed to raise awareness of VAWG and show how we are working together to make sure that VAWG is something that should not be tolerated in any society.”
He added: “An extensive cordon remains in place at the scene (which includes Williamson Square, Tarleton Street, Church Street, Church Alley, School Lane crossing over Hanover Street on to Fleet Street) whilst forensic experts continue their examinations. We will endeavour to release the scene as soon as is practically possible, but we would ask members of the public for their understanding and patience whilst our investigations are being carried out so that we can bring justice for Ava and her family.”
Any images or mobile phone/CCTV footage can be sent directly to the investigation team via the following link: https://mipp.police.uk//operation/05MP19M36-PO1