CCTV image issued following hate crime in Formby.

Police are trying to identify a male captured on CCTV who may have valuable information relating to a hate crime in Formby.

At around 6.45pm on Friday 26 March, a group of youths entered Tesco on Altcar Road and caused a disturbance, throwing items around the store. A staff member challenged the group, one of whom shouted homophobic abuse and exposed his backside, before they left.

Enquiries have been carried out to identify those involved, including via local schools.

Sergeant Jenni Bowman said: “We think the male pictured has information to assist, so if you know him please come forward.

“For people going about their work in local businesses to be verbally abused and threatened in such a way is despicable, even more so during such testing times, and we’re working hard to find those responsible. You can come forward directly or anonymously via Crimestoppers.”

Please be mindful this is a live investigation and don’t pass information on via our main pages, but contact @MerPolCC on Twitter, ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook, or call the independent charity @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111, with reference 21000193742. You can also contact them via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.