We are pleased to have one of the country's leading experts in gun crime and Merseyside's most senior Police Officer talk about an issue that should be of great interest and concern to all our members.

Andy Cooke joined Merseyside Police in 1985 having obtained an Honours Degree in Politics from Nottingham University and serving as a Detective at every rank. In 2008 he left Merseyside after being appointed as Assistant Chief Constable at Lancashire Constabulary. He returned to Merseyside in 2012 as Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for the Operations portfolio. In the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2014 he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal and in July 2016 he became Chief Constable of the Merseyside Police.

Nationally, he is the NPCC lead for Protected Persons (formerly Witness Protection) and he is currently leading a programme to implement witness protection on a national basis under the National Crime Agency. Andy has extensive operational experience and was the first commander of the nationally recognised 'Matrix' team, responsible for tackling gun and gang enabled crime.

The lecture will commence at 8.00 p.m. and will be preceded, for those who wish it, by drinks and Prosecco at 6.00 p.m. followed by dinner at 6.30 p.m.

The lecture is free to all and dinner is available to MMLS members at the modest sum of £20pp. Please register and pay online. If you would prefer to pay by cheque please register above and select 'manual payment' then send a cheque payable to "MMLS" to the following address including details of the event, any dietary requirements and the names of any guests:

Jennifer Menzies,

MMLS Social Secretary

The Coach House,

Drewell Road,

Liverpool

L18 8AT.