PEOPLE in an area which had the highest rate of antisocial behaviour complaints last year say they are “mystified” about why.

The Knowsley part of Warrington Road was identified as the having the most antisocial behaviour complaints in the borough between November 2020 and November 2021.

Two separate entries, recorded a total of 81 complaints, according to a response by Merseyside Police to a Freedom of Information request.

Those figures have left one local councillor and some residents “baffled.”

Knowsley Green party leader Cllr Kai Taylor, who represents Prescot South ward, said in a post on Facebook earlier this week: “As a local councillor for this area I have to say I’m quite surprised, we’ve never received a large number of complaints for this area.”

On Warrington Road, close to Prescot town centre, people living and working along the stretch told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they were “mystified” as to what could be prompting so many complaints of antisocial behaviour in what they describe as a “nice area.”

One shop owner, Suzanne, said: “We never have any issues here, I’d seen the story and was really surprised at the amount of complaints.

“There aren’t usually gangs of kids hanging around or anything like that, you get some school kids but not gangs, it’s quite quiet round here. I have no idea where the problems must be happening.”

At another nearby shop, the response was similar, with one woman, who asked not to be named, saying: “Over the years there have been a few bits and bobs but nothing to really mention.

“No hooligans or anything like that, we’ve not noticed anything.”

Residents living along the busy road also appeared surprised that their neighbourhood had the highest level of of complaints recorded in the borough.

Amber, who has recently moved into the area and asked to be referred to by her first name, said: “The main issue along here is the traffic.

“You really just don’t see many gangs or groups of young people or anything, it feels like just a nice, decent place to live round here.”

Dave, who also lives along the road, said he thought issues in the area were “no more than usual.”

He said: “I can’t think where the complaints would be coming from.  You get some groups of young people but you get that everywhere and they’re not causing problems.

“There’s the hospital nearby, the park, I don’t think you really get any problems here though, I’m happy living here.”

Cllr Taylor said: “We regularly stay in contact with residents across the ward and deal with a variety of complaints for people from Prescot and Whiston and Warrington Road has never been noted as an area of concern.

“I’ve even have had a resident saying they’re putting their house up for sale and they’re really concerned now what people might think.

“As a councillor in this area I was worried to read it as we speak a lot to local residents and wouldn’t like to think we’ve missed any concerns.

“I wondered whether maybe there had been calls about kids in Henley Park, but it’s a green flag flagship park, I live close by and there are groups of kids but local residents say they’re usually quite quiet as they’re leaving.  I’m mystified as to what could be causing it.”

Cllr Taylor said he also spoke with a local residents group who “racked their rains” for what could have led to the high levels of complaints –  including the local park and Whiston Hospital – although he says the feedback he received has not led him to believe the area has any particular problem with antisocial behaviour.

One possible answer to the mystery could lie in the way police complaints have been recorded in recent years.

At a meeting of Knowsley’s sustainable borough scrutiny committee in November officers from the borough’s community safety partnership said that overall there had been a 50% increase in reports of antisocial behaviour across Knowsley compared to the previous 12 months.

According to representatives from Merseyside Police, the probation service and housing providers, that data  however was likely to have been “skewed” by the way covid related offences were coded.

Speaking about figures from the period 2019/2020, Knowsley Council’s head of community safety Ian Willman said: “We were right in the middle of covid, and many complaints were around breaches which wouldn’t happen in other years and they were classified as antisocial behaviour.

“We were dealing with something never seen before so that accounted for the large increase.”

Temporary superintendent for community policing Phil Mullally said: “What wasn’t covered was calls into policing that was covid related, that was recorded as antisocial behaviour on a national level so you’ve got a set of data which ultimately doesn’t tell the picture, so you have to treat with caution and almost discount it if we’re honest.”