Community priorities actioned in partnership effort across the city

We’ve been working alongside Stoke-on-Trent City Council to tackle drug use, anti-social behaviour (ASB), fly-tipping, retailer compliance and vehicle crime in a number of days of action across the city.

Last week, our officers teamed up with Stoke-on-Trent City Council including their Trading Standards department, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, DVLA, Partnership Against Business Crime in Staffordshire (PABCIS) and wider partners to tackle issues affecting local people and businesses in Burslem, Tunstall, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Meir.

Here’s what we did:

• Five people were found carrying drugs following proactive stop and searches using a police dog
• Litter was cleared from alleyways and town centres along with six fly-tipping sites
• Five properties in Tunstall were issued with tidy-up letters
• A Community Protection Warning (CPW) was issued to a resident in Hanley following ASB concerns
• 26 vehicles were either seized, clamped or reported for not having insurance
• Trading Standards seized an estimated £2,800 worth of soft toys from Hanley outdoor market following concerns over safety requirements
• 13 penalties issued by parking enforcement
• Seven abandoned vehicles were seized.

We also worked closely with Stoke-on-Trent Community Drug & Alcohol Service (CDAS) to engage closely with rough sleepers and signpost them to support hubs and accommodation providers, while also carrying out safety and fire hazard checks on abandoned and derelict buildings with fire crews across the city.

Chief Inspector Laura Davies, from the Stoke North local policing team, said: “We’re determined to keep working together as a collective to deliver on the needs of local communities across the cities in initiatives like this.

“As part of our Making Great Places work with the city council and wider partners, we’re continuing to act proactively against those blighting local residents and businesses in Stoke-on-Trent to make sure we make the city a cleaner, healthier and happier place for everyone who is proud to call it home.”

Councillor Majid Khan, cabinet member for safe and resilient communities at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “It was great to be able to join the teams in action in Hanley. Working with our partners means we can target those blighting our communities with anti-social behaviour and make the city safer and cleaner.

“The results from this work have been fantastic. As we approach our Centenary year, we’re stepping up our work to make sure everyone can feel pride in their neighbourhood. We want everyone to feel safe where they live, work and visit.”

Residents are also reminded to continue to report their concerns. We simply cannot carry out this type of targeted work without community involvement.”