Officers in Woolton are urging parents and guardians to warn their children about the dangers of going into Woolton Hall after it suffered extensive fire damage.
Merseyside Police write:
At around 8.20pm on 19 August, emergency services were called to reports the derelict building was on fire and that a large group of youths had been seen in the grounds. Before and since the incident there have been a number of reports of youths going into the derelict building, despite it being structurally unsafe. Temporary fencing is in place and ground level access to the building is secure, but some have ignored warning signs around the site to enter it. In response, officers have been engaged in patrols in the area to deter them.
Community Inspector Michelle Ingram said: ‘Breaking into a private premises can, in some circumstances, amount to a criminal offence as well as being a civil matter.
But more importantly than that, those entering Woolton Hall in its current state are putting themselves at very serious risk of injury. Liverpool City Council are working with the building owners and police to alleviate the dangers at the site and make sure it is secure. With rubble, unstable floors and damaged beams and girders as well as exposed wiring, the site is extremely dangerous and I want to appeal to parents and guardians to discourage their children from going anywhere near it for their own sake.
Please speak to your children and make sure you know where they are and what they are doing for their own safety and the safety of others.’
A 14-year-old old girl who was arrested on suspicion of arson was conditionally bailed. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. Anyone with information on people entering the site of Woolton Hall without permission should contact Merseyside Police…
