Investigative and frontline police service for Cheshire, tackling crime, safeguarding communities and enforcing the law.
Two lifelike rescue efforts near Hartlepool and Boulmer have ended in tragedy as two separate incidents haul more questions about coastguard funding and water safety. Authorities report a death toll remains uncertain in one case and a confirmed fatality in the other, while families seek accountability and changes to safety provisions.
A wave of data from the Home Office and football bodies shows rising incidents at matches, with officials arguing current policing funding—with taxpayers shouldering about £70m annually—cannot continue. The debate centers on safety, policing costs, and the future role of clubs in funding security outside stadiums.
Police have seized nitrous oxide canisters and ecstasy at Creamfields in Daresbury, Cheshire, ahead of the August bank holiday festival. Officers say more searches will continue as organisers maintain a strict anti-drug policy.
A van was struck by a train at a level crossing in Burscough, Lancashire. The driver died at the scene. Two train passengers suffered minor injuries as emergency services responded. Trains are disrupted with lines blocked between Wigan Wallgate and Southport, and buses are replacing some services.
Two HGV trailers containing about 70,000 pints of Guinness have been stolen from a Runcorn industrial estate. Police have released CCTV footage of two men believed to hold vital information. Trailers were later located in Skelmersdale and Gillibrands Road; total value is around £205,000 as officers pursue leads and urge witnesses to come forward.
The Thirlwall Inquiry into the Countess of Chester Hospital has found a complete failure to protect babies on the neonatal unit, with safeguarding procedures not invoked even after concerns were raised about nurse Lucy Letby. The report urges reforms, including CCTV for cots and insulin-fridge CCTV, and highlights missed opportunities to intervene between 2015 and 2016.
The Thirlwall Inquiry has found a complete failure to protect babies on the Countess of Chester neonatal unit, with executives delaying police involvement and prioritising reviews over safeguarding. The report highlights missed opportunities and calls for accountability as families seek reassurance.
The Thirlwall inquiry has found a complete failure to protect babies at Countess of Chester Hospital, faulting senior management for delays, safeguarding gaps and a toxic culture. The 822-page report calls for major NHS reforms and accountability measures, amid ongoing investigations into Lucy Letby’s convictions.