In August 2022, the lives of three families in Liverpool were shattered by gun crime, prompting a new targeted response to tackle serious and organised crime.
At 11:40pm on August 16, 22-year-old Sam Rimmer was shot in Dingle and passed away a short time after. Five days later, 28-year-old Ashley Dale was killed in Old Swan and the following day nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was fatally shot in Dovecot.
Ashley and Olivia were in their own homes – places that should have been safest.
These tragic murders of three innocent people led to Merseyside Police being given funding by the Home Office to begin a Clear, Hold, Build operation, known locally as EVOLVE, designed to reclaim areas worst affected by serious and organised crime and rebuild safer, stronger communities.
It offers a holistic approach combining enforcement with long-term prevention.
Delivered in partnership with other agencies, including Liverpool City Council, it aims to tackle criminality and its underlying causes.
Merseyside was one of the first forces in the UK to implement this model, ahead of its national rollout in January 2023.
In Liverpool, the projects are:
- EVOLVE Liverpool-Knowsley (launched August 2022)
- EVOLVE Everton-Vauxhall (launched January 2025)
Each phase has a distinct purpose. Clear focuses on disrupting and removing criminals from communities, Hold aims to stabilize the area and prevent the return of criminal activity, and Build works to strengthen communities and reduce vulnerability to crime.
Since the launch of the first Clear and Hold phases following Sam, Ashley and Olivia’s murders in August 2022, the impact has been substantial.
Across the four EVOLVE areas there have been:
- More than 5,300 arrests
- Around 630kg of Class A and B drugs seized with an estimated street value of several million pounds
- Around £2.5 million seized in cash and assets – this is being reinvested into communities via participatory budget events and other schemes
- More than 260 offensive weapons and 28 firearms seized
- Hundreds of warrants executed
- More than 6,500 stop-searches carried out
- More than 440 vulnerable people safeguarded
- Some offenders have been sentenced to a total of more than 700 years in prison
- Community intelligence has increased by more than 300% across the four sites equating to thousands of reports
- All crime and anti-social behaviour has fallen across each of the areas
Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene at Liverpool City Council, said: “All of the partners involved in EVOLVE are determined to tackle the root causes of serious violence, so that residents can go about their lives without fear of crime.
“Joint working over the last three years has made a real difference, through days of action, community projects, arrests and the preventative work to dissuade young people from getting involved in criminality.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Graeme Robson, who leads EVOLVE, said: “This is not just about numbers – this is about lives. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to crime.
“While serious and organised crime in Merseyside is falling, one weapon fired is one too many.
“We are working tirelessly with our partners to create safer communities. The results are impressive, but we are not stopping here.
“Young people are key to creating lasting change. We are working closely with schools and youth organisations to educate young people and try to prevent them from going down the wrong path or falling victim to criminal gangs looking to exploit them for their financial gain.
“The wider community also plays a vital role. Law-abiding residents don’t want to live in the shadows of gangs and we have seen an increase in reports to Crimestoppers and our Force since 2022.
“This information, combined with the work of dedicated teams, is helping drive real change.
“Every piece of information helps us to protect more lives, so we urge the public to keep coming forward so we can continue to make a difference – together.
“We have brought Ashley, Olivia and Elle’s killers to justice, but we are still seeking justice for Sam and his family. I encourage anyone with information to do the right thing and tell us what you know.”
