Criminals involved in organised crime sometimes wear hi-visibility clothing during targeted shootings as a way to "hide in plain sight," according to a former senior detective who led a major murder investigation in the north west.
While the choice of bright clothing might seem counter-intuitive for those seeking to avoid attention, the tactic is designed to confuse victims and potential witnesses. The former detective told the ECHO: "Wearing the jacket is hiding in plain sight. It gives the criminal an opportunity to change their appearance quickly. It almost draws the witness's attention so it is fixed in their mind."
How the Tactic Works
The hi-vis jacket allows the wearer to appear as a construction worker, parcel courier, or road sweeper. This helps the individual blend in, as onlookers may assume they have a legitimate reason for wearing the jacket and being in the area.
This week, Merseyside Police issued images of a man wearing a hi-vis jacket and trousers who they believe could assist their investigation into a shooting in Toxteth. The force reported that a gun had been fired on Trefoil Close at around 1.20pm on September 23, with no reports of injuries or damage.
Police Appeal in Toxteth Shooting
Merseyside Police said extensive enquiries had been ongoing, including CCTV analysis, house-to-house enquiries, and forensic examinations. Detective Inspector Chris Clark, from the force's firearms investigation team, said: "Although the image does not show the person's face, we think the distinctive clothing and bag may jog someone's memory. You may have seen them in the area or be familiar with them from their clothing and build. Please come forward as soon as possible if so."
In the picture issued by the police, the man was wearing a mask or balaclava covering his face, black gloves, a black backpack, and what appeared to be a Nike cross-body bag.
Previous Cases Using the Tactic
During a trial at Preston Crown Court last year, the jury was told that murderer Elias Morgan wore a hi-vis jacket to carry out the shooting of Lenny Scott outside a gym on an industrial estate. Morgan "meticulously planned" the shooting, disguising himself by wearing the hi-vis jacket and a mask, and travelling to the scene on an e-bike that he stashed in a van.
A police appeal released in the days after the shooting showed a blurred CCTV image with the description that the gunman was wearing "black clothing with an orange hi-vis jacket." An eyewitness at the gym on the night of the shooting recalled the gunman "was wearing an orange hi-vis and looked like he had thick layers on," adding: "He was wearing a black balaclava over his head and a mask over his eyes."
This tactic was a striking parallel to the shooting of gangland fixer John Kinsella, who was murdered by assassin Mark "The Iceman" Fellows in May 2018. Fellows, who rode a mountain bike to the scene, wore a green hi-vis tabard during the shooting. It was the second murder Fellows had carried out, after murdering Mr Kinsella's associate, Paul Massey, three years earlier. He added a third to his tally when he later murdered child killer Kyle Bevan while both were inmates at HMP Wakefield, known as "Monster Mansion."
