Police Commissioner David Baines has written to a top UK force asking for help to curb the recent spate of senseless violence that yesterday claimed its fifth life.

Asher McGaw was shot dead in the early hours of Thursday morning in East End. He was just 21 years old.

Now Governor Duncan Taylor has revealed the RCIPS has asked Merseyside Police for help to solve the crimes.

Merseyside is in the North West of the United Kingdom and has strong links with the Cayman Islands.

Current Deputy Commissioner Steve Brougham is a former senior officer with Merseyside Police and ex-Commissioner Stuart Kernohan also served with the force, as acting Assistant Chief Constable.

Mr McGaw was shot dead on John McLean Drive around 3am. A passing police patrol saw him lying in the road. Examination revealed no vital signs and the 21-year-old was pronounced dead.

Sources say it is unlikely that he was part of either of the warring gangs in West Bay and the murder may have been unrelated to the other four killings.

One resident who asked not to be named said yesterday he was one of the first people to spot the body.

He added: “As I walked up I could see him lying in the road in a pool of blood. That image will stay in my mind. It will traumatise me for a very long time.

“When you see someone you have known since a child lying in the road like that it’s like you are being choked. I was so shocked I found it hard to breathe.”

Another woman added: “I heard a loud bang and a scream. At first I thought I was dreaming. It was only the next day I realised something terrible had happened.”

Commissioner Baines has been pressured to bring in outside assistance to help Cayman officers.

In September last year UK officers came to help investigate a similar spate of murders. Their involvement was deemed a success.

It is not uncommon for forces to ask for assistance from other countries that may have more expertise in dealing with certain crimes.

Only last month the Metropolitan Police in London sought help from the USA to deal with riots that were terrorising the capital.

Merseyside Police yesterday confirmed they had received a request from the Commissioner for support.

Governor Taylor told iNews: “The Commissioner also announced that he had made an approach to the UK police for some temporary assistance similar to what happened in 2010 when about 16 officers came out for six weeks, and was hopeful of a positive response.

“The assistance would be to support the investigative teams in respect of the murder inquiries.” 

Additional reporting Tricia Russell-Jones