In a digital world where speculation spreads faster than verified facts, Merseyside Police has come to understand a difficult truth: silence can be dangerous. Nowhere was that more evident than in the immediate aftermath of the recent car-ramming incident during a parade in central Liverpool, where nearly 50 people were injured.
It’s clear that the force has learnt painful lessons from the Southport stabbing attack, when a slow flow of official information left a vacuum that was rapidly filled with rumours, conspiracy theories, and outright lies, many of them pushed by far-right groups on social media. This time, the police response was strikingly different.
Rapid Response to Misinformation
Within hours of the incident, police released a statement confirming that they had arrested a 53-year-old white British man from Liverpool. Just a few hours later, a detailed press conference was held, where officers ruled out terrorism as a motive, a critical step in countering false narratives that had already begun to gain traction online.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, praised the quick police response, noting that “speculation and social media are a wildfire” and acknowledging the dangers of misinformation being spread for “nefarious reasons.” He underlined the importance of acting swiftly to prevent panic and further disorder, particularly when some online users were falsely claiming additional attacks were taking place across the city.
Far-Right Exploitation and Police Transparency
One of the more striking decisions Merseyside Police made was the unusually fast disclosure of the suspect’s race and ethnicity. Former Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Dal Babu described the move as “unprecedented” but necessary. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he said it was clearly aimed at quelling the far-right narratives that were falsely claiming the attack was carried out by a Muslim extremist.
“The difficulty we have,” Babu explained, “is that in the past, you could ask journalists to hold off on publishing certain sensitive information — and they often would. But in the era of social media, it’s the Wild West.”
Indeed, the speed and scale of misinformation have changed the game entirely. In the minutes following the attack, videos filmed by bystanders were shared widely online, fuelling chaotic speculation and drawing in audiences far beyond Liverpool.
A Lesson in Modern Policing
Merseyside Police now finds itself at the sharp end of the battle between facts and falsehoods. Graham Wettone, a policing commentator, stated that the force “did well” to quickly combat social media-fuelled misinformation. He said the scale of public recording and instant sharing had made modern policing infinitely more complex.
Back on the ground in Liverpool, the physical aftermath of the attack is still visible. Water Street remains cordoned off, paint flares and empty bottles scattered across the road — grim reminders of a celebration turned tragedy.
But beyond the cordons and forensic tents, another battle was being fought: the one against lies, prejudice, and online hysteria. In that fight, Merseyside Police appears to have finally acknowledged that transparency and speed are no longer optional; they are essential tools in the age of viral disinformation.
As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the way police communicate in the wake of major incidents must now evolve not just for truth’s sake, but for public safety.
