Southport Knife Attack Investigation: Important Timings

Three young girls have tragically died as a result of Monday's "ferocious" knife attack in Southport.

Eight more children, probably young girls too, are still undergoing treatment in hospital. Five of those are said to be in a critical condition.

Two brave adults, who tried to fend off the attacker, are also undergoing treatment for critical injuries.

My thoughts and prayers are very much with them and their families.

The horrific attack took place shortly before noon on Monday, when the perpetrator targeted the Hart Space dance studio on Hart Street. Inside a Taylor Swift-themed dance class was just drawing to its conclusion.

Within an hour the police had made an arrest in relation to the attack. A 17-year-old male is currently in police custody. Legislation is such that the police and media are now very limited in what they can say about the male, but in an effort to dispel inaccurate online speculation it has been confirmed that he was born in Cardiff.

The police will be working tirelessly in the background to secure physical evidence from the scene, witness accounts and the male's own account during interview.

Not much is being said about the ongoing investigation, but by now - the male having been in custody for just short of 48 hours - the police will have already done one of the following:

• Released him without charge: I suggest that is pretty unlikely given the severity of the allegations against him.
• Charged him: That is possible, but has not been reported. It would be normal for the police to announce any charging decision very shortly afterwards.
• Apply for a Warrant of Further Detention: This is the most likely scenario in this case.

After 36 hours' in police custody the police need to make an application to the court for the continued detention of the suspect. The court can grant successive extensions up to an absolute maximum of 96 hours from the suspect's time of arrest, at which time they must either be charged or released.

Applications for Warrants of Further Detention are heard in court in the presence of the suspect. That being the case, I would suggest that the suspect has already been before the court - probably Sefton Magistrates' Court - for this to have happened. It may not have happened during normal court hours, but as it's Wednesday it probably did.

An application may be granted if the court is satisfied that:

• The continued detention of the person is necessary to secure or preserve evidence of the offence for which they were arrested, or to obtain such evidence by questioning them; and
• The offence for which they were arrested was an indictable offence (including an either way offence); and
• The investigation is being conducted diligently and expeditiously.

If the court is not satisfied it should dismiss the application, which would compel the police to either charge or release the suspect.

Whatever has happened, I would expect the police to provide an update very shortly.

Update (31/7/24): As anticipated, police granted more time to question suspect.