Crime in Meir Hay, Stoke-on-Trent

Dog Fouling is the biggest concern raised by residents in recent months. This is not a police matter. Given the impact this is clearly having on the quality of life for residents, we would encourage all reports to be raised with Stoke on Trent City Council, so they may look to address the matter. This can be done by education on social media platforms, signs in the area, fines being utilised and the environmental health teams cleaning the area.

We appreciate the upset caused to residents when they are scared or disturbed in their own homes. We as police have become aware of a Tik-Tok trend whereby people kick at people's front doors and run away. This is very distressing and could escalate far beyond a "joke". We have shared articles and warnings in relation to this behaviour. PCSOs have visited schools to educate pupils and Smart Alerts have been shared with residents to warn their children against doing it. We will take robust action against anyone identified as taking part.

Our PCSOs continue to maintain a high-visibility presence in key locations, providing reassurance to the public and acting as a point of contact for any concerns. In recent months, we have seen an increase in rough sleeping, and we are working closely with the local authority and homelessness support charities to ensure that those in need are offered appropriate support and engagement. Our focus is on providing long-term, sustainable outcomes—connecting individuals with housing, mental health, and addiction services where necessary—while also addressing behaviours that may cause distress to others. This work will remain a key priority over the coming months as we strive to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve the wider environment for all members of the community.

The community has highlighted that the most significant issue in recent months has been criminal damage to vehicles. In response, we will be sharing crime-prevention advice through our social media channels and Smart Alerts to help residents reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

Local PCSOs will be increasing their visibility in the area as part of our crime-reduction approach. We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity to the police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, as this information is vital in helping us identify and deal with those responsible.

We will also be reviewing the deployment of redeployable CCTV (RDCs) to monitor the most affected locations and support ongoing investigations.

Operation Transom continues in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to tackle this issue. This involves the neighbourhood policing team, roads policing unit, local authority ASB team, and dedicated communications support. The goal is clear: to identify offenders, take enforcement action, and reassure the public through visible and proactive policing. As part of our ongoing work, we have carried out—and will continue to arrange—targeted days of action. These operations include the use of drones, NPAS (police helicopter), a fixed-wing aircraft, and specially trained officers using off-road bikes. This allows us to safely pursue and apprehend offenders, even in hard-to-reach areas.