Neighbourhood officers raise hundreds for Potteries charity by pedalling for pounds

Neighbourhood police officers got on their bikes for a Potteries charity and raised more than £600 in donations.

The officers were fundraising during a crime-fighting initiative and raised a total of £627 for north Staffordshire charity, Alice.

To coincide with the final week of the world’s biggest cycle race officers pedalled for pounds at shopping centres across the Potteries during Staffordshire Police’s Business Crime week of action.

The money raised during the Tour de Alice will go to funding the work of the Alice charity, which supports disadvantaged and vulnerable families in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Officers from Stoke North Neighbourhood Policing Team – including area commander Chief Inspector Simon Brownsword – pedalled from noon to 2pm each day from 12 to 16 July at Asda in Tunstall, Tesco in Hanley, Morrisons in Festival Park, and finally, the Potteries Centre.

Sergeant Charlie Emmett, of Stoke North NPT, said: “It was a busy week with lots of people stopping to say hello and ask questions during Business Crime week of action. We raised awareness of how to tackle crimes affecting businesses and offered advice on safety and security.

“We’re also delighted to raise funds for Alice as they do tremendous work in our communities.”

Stephanie Talbot, Alice chief executive officer, said: “Both Alice charity and neighbourhood police officers are community based, working tirelessly for their communities, so it is amazing that neighbourhood police officers joined in our Tour de Alice event last week.

“Their support made a huge difference to how much money we raised, but as the cycling challenges were based within communities it also raised awareness of the work of Alice charity and the police, which helps our local families to understand what support is available for them. A great partnership.”