Crime in Burslem Central, Stoke-on-Trent

Rough sleeping is an increasing problem in Burslem Town centre and this has increased levels of ASB and some crime. Officers are carrying out early sweeps of the area to identify rough sleepers and to try and assist with their verification with the Rough Sleeper Team. Increased foot patrols are being conducted in this area.

We are aware of the on going concerns raised by residents and members of the community about the use of off road bikes. As a result, our road crime team will continue to spend time in the areas. We have arranged targets operations using a variety of resources including our road crime team, Staffs off road bikes, drones and the fixed wing plane. This has been on going through the summer. This has also involved local officers engaging with petrol stations schools and joint visits with local housing officers to address problem properties. Operation Transom and Operation Reclaim is our response to nuisance off-road bikes. In conjunction with the Local Authority, we are trying to identify riders of the bikes, both through police reported incidents and information received by the Local Authority. Where the evidence allows, we are carrying out seizures of bikes and prosecuting riders. There have been occasions where riders have been identified as residing in Local Authority housing and tenancy breach action has been taken.

We have seen a national increase in shop theft. Working alongside PABCIS we have successfully applied and secure funding to bring PABCIS to retail and licensed premises within Burslem. Work is underway with businesses to sign them onto the scheme with a view to reduce retail crime and disorder in the town.

This has been identified as an area historically high in serious violence and as such, is an area dedicated for patrols using government funding with officers carrying out foot patrols in the worst affected streets. Other locations have been identified for ASB mainly from gathering youths and other areas have been targeted for patrols by PCSOs in support of youth provision for the area.