Number of arrests following proactive visible policing in city

We made a number of arrests last Friday (12 April) as part of our ongoing commitment to tackle people’s priorities in Stoke-on-Trent.

There’s been lots of comments online about a large number of officers who were involved in the arrest of a man suspected of stealing sandwiches in the area, and we wanted to provide some extra context and tell people about the work we’ve been doing in the area.

Whilst it was perceived that lots of officers were involved in the arrest, this was a by-product of the increased amount of police we had in the area at the time and our continued efforts to tackle ASB and community concerns as proactively as possible.

Separate officers were also dealing with a group of people who were causing alarm in the area at the time of the arrest. Some of these officers ended up helping with the arrest after the man became obstructive.

We were already out and about to combat recent reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) across Hanley and to provide visible reassurance to local people and businesses.

A section 35 dispersal order was issued at the time, giving us extra means of targeting those who were committing or were suspected of committing ASB in the area. Neighbourhood officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) were patrolling and engaging with residents and businesses as part of this dispersal order.

Proactive officers also arrested a 33-year-old woman, of no fixed abode, on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine and possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, after she was stopped for a search.

She has since been released under investigation while our enquiries continue.

Chief Inspector Scott McGrath, from the Stoke North local policing team, said: “Increased visibility and proactive policing is something we’re keen to continue doing across the city as part of our efforts to tackle the issues that matter most to people.

“We want to continue working with our partners across Stoke-on-Trent to target those blighting communities, tackle business crime and police our streets as proactively as possible.”