Man committed so many crimes he was mentioned in police annual accounts

The actions of one man had such an impact on Liverpool's crime figures that he was mentioned in Merseyside Police ’s annual accounts. The accounts, released earlier this week, give an overview of the force’s budget and cashflow, as well as a summary of how the level of recorded crimes changed compared to previous years. Recorded crimes were up by 2.1% in 2025/26 compared to the previous year, with 137,308 crimes recorded in Merseyside. Crimes classed as ‘serious violence’ jumped by 19.6% in 2025/26. Police said this was partly due to a change in the way business robberies are classified (this category jumped by 139%), but also due to the scale of violence committed by one man in May last year. The report states: “Serious violence overall crime volumes were also influenced by offences recorded following the major incident at the Liverpool FC Premier League title parade in the City Centre, in May 2025.” Paul Doyle, 54, of Burghill Road in West Derby , was jailed for 21 years and six months after he admitted 31 charges related to the carnage on Water Street last year. Shortly after 6pm on Monday, May 26, 2025, Doyle ploughed his two-tonne Ford Galaxy into a crowd of Liverpool fans on Water Street, making their way home from seeing their heroes on the Strand. More than 100 people were injured. 50 required hospital treatment, and all were later discharged. Prosecutors said he "lost his temper" and dashcam footage played in court showed shocking moments when he drove directly at men, women and children, while swearing and shouting. Reports of hate crimes leapt 12.5% in 2025/26 compared to the previous year. 8.5% more rapes were reported, with other sexual offences climbing by 3.5%. The report states that these increases are “not an undesirable outcome” as police “seek to encourage victims to have the confidence to report offences, particularly where such crimes are often under-reported”. Drug offences increased by 9.5%. The report puts this down to “proactive policing”, such as stop and search. There were sharp drops in other serious crimes. Homicide was down 36%, firearms discharges down 24%, and burglary down 10%. Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell described the increase in recorded rape offences as “deeply concerning” and “distressing for victims, survivors and our communities”. Ms Spurrell said: “While any increase in rape offences is a cause for concern, it is important to understand what may sit behind these figures. “An increase in reports can, in part, reflect greater confidence among victims and survivors to come forward, knowing they will be listened to, believed and supported. We know that many victims face significant barriers to reporting, and giving people the confidence to seek help remains a crucial part of our response. “That growing confidence is supported by the ongoing work of Merseyside Police through the national Operation Soteria programme, which promotes victim-centred, suspect-focused investigations, as well as the outstanding support provided by my commissioned sexual violence services, RASA Merseyside and RASASC. Their staff work tirelessly every day to provide specialist advocacy, practical support and a compassionate response to victims when they need it most. “However, we must never lose sight of the fact that behind every statistic is a survivor. The harm caused by these offences cannot be underestimated. I remain committed to working closely with partners and, through my role in holding the Chief Constable to account, ensuring victims and survivors remain at the heart of the criminal justice process, while continuing our efforts to tackle violence against women and girls and bring perpetrators to justice.” Similarly, while Ms Spurrell said the increase in recorded hate crimes was “concerning”, she added: “While an increase in reporting can be a positive sign that more victims feel confident coming forward, each report represents someone who has experienced unacceptable prejudice, hostility or abuse, and that should never be tolerated. “Across Merseyside, significant work has been undertaken by policing, local authorities and community partners to raise awareness of hate crime, improve support for victims and give people greater confidence to come forward and report incidents. Over recent years, my office has worked closely with partners to increase reporting opportunities through hate crime walkabouts, community engagement events, training for frontline staff and the expansion of third-party reporting services. “We are proud to fund Stop Hate UK, providing a confidential and independent route for victims to seek help, and we have seen increased use of this service, alongside growing engagement from communities that may previously have been reluctant to report. “Our focus remains on ensuring victims receive the support they need, while continuing to challenge hate in all its forms. Through investment in specialist local support services, strengthened partnership working and education initiatives across our communities, we are working hard to make Merseyside a safer, more inclusive place where everyone feels confident to report hate crime and access support.”