A NEW taskforce will tackle crime and disorder in St Helens town centre.

On Wednesday, members of St Helens Council’s People’s Board gave the green light to the Joint Agency group (JAG), with the aim of tackling issues facing the town centre.

The group is comprised of representatives of a range of professional agencies, including local police and fire services, probation, social and youth services, the town centre management team, along with local councillors and representatives of local community groups.

Local Policing Superintendent Louise Harrison discussed the JAG, which is modelled on the first JAG created in Liverpool in 2002, at the People’s Board meeting.

Supt Harrison said the idea of the group was to have a more “coordinated response” to some of the issues impacting people of all ages in the town.

An initial meeting took place with various partners on Wednesday morning to discuss how to proceed if the council gave its backing.

“We had lots of different organisations and people round the table with some really encouraging views about how we could bring that forward,” she said.

“The initial view was that we look at the town centre specifically because that appeared to be where some of the issues that were creating a great deal of work and a challenge for all the partners round the table were.

“Certainly, from ourselves, the night-time economy has caused us some real challenges in terms of how busy it is.”

Supt Harrison said one of the objectives of the group is to instil some “civic pride” into the town’s residents.

She said some issues the group will look to address is youth disorder, arson and problems relating to the night-time economy.

Addressing the homelessness situation is also on the agenda.

The aim will be to support vulnerable people and clean up needles used for drug use.

Cllr Lisa Preston, cabinet member for community safety and town centre Ward, said: “This is a very positive step towards a safer town centre, and I’m grateful for the support of our Local Policing Team and our partner agencies.

“We will begin to address in a more coordinated way some key concerns about the town centre that residents have and that we as a council share.

"In doing so, we can support our wider plans for a more ambitious and aspirational town centre.”

Supt Harrison added: "We all hope that, working together, the people of St Helens will see their town centre go from strength to strength, and become an even safer, cleaner and more desirable place to live, work and visit.”