More than 150 arrests as organised crime crackdown continues in city

We have arrested more than 150 people suspected of serious criminal offences as part of our joint efforts to tackle local priorities in Shelton and Hanley Park.

Making Great Places, launched with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, has seen us working together over the last two months to reduce crime and make long lasting improvements to the area.

We have arrested 152 people on suspicion of criminal offences including firearms possession, Class A drug supply, rape and criminal exploitation. A total of 34 people have been charged and are being dealt with at court. We have also carried out more than 100 stop and searches in the area.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council cleared more than 60 areas after waste was illegally dumped. Their Environmental Health department carried out checks on 14 premises and served four closure notices to retailers illegally selling tobacco and vapes.

This robust enforcement has seen serious criminal networks in the area disrupted and some taken off the streets. Now, as part of the next phase of Making Great Places, we’re continuing to support the city council in efforts to engage with local people and businesses on a wider level, making sure we do everything we can to stop these gangs from coming back to Shelton and Hanley Park.

Wider enforcement is continuing over this next period, but we need the help of local communities.