Crime in Sandford Hill, Stoke-on-Trent

Operation Transom continues in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. This involves the neighbourhood policing team, roads policing unit, local authority anti-social behaviour (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.

Problem Solving Policing has also seen an increase in high visibility patrols to assist in tackling ASB, and I know the local community have enjoyed seeing officers out on the street, taking the opportunity to engage and talk through local concerns. Our dedicated PCSOs will continue their innovative approach to these community activities to build key relationships between police and public. More recently there has been issues raised around the criminal damage to the youth centre and buses travelling through the area. There have been bespoke operations and tactics devised and deployed to tackle these and we are confident we can identify those responsible, to prevent this crime type from continuing. There has been a number of issues with youths around Lidl and causing issues on buses travelling through the areas. A number of bespoke operations both plain clothes and high visibility have been done to tackle this and this work will continue in the coming months.

Operation Transom continues in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. This involves the neighbourhood policing team, roads policing unit, local authority anti-social behaviour (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.

Problem Solving Policing has also seen an increase in high visibility patrols to assist in tackling ASB, and I know the local community have enjoyed seeing officers out on the street, taking the opportunity to engage and talk through local concerns. Our dedicated PCSOs will continue their innovative approach to these community activities to build key relationships between police and public. More recently there has been issues raised around the criminal damage to the youth centre and buses travelling through the area. There have been bespoke operations and tactics devised and deployed to tackle these and we are confident we can identify those responsible, to prevent this crime type from continuing.

Our PCSOs are active and visible in the community, working closely with key partners including the local authority’s anti-social behaviour (ASB) teams, housing associations, and voluntary organisations such as Harmony and United Staffordshire Against Hate. Where appropriate, we support early intervention and mediation as a way to de-escalate conflict and help neighbours reach practical, long-term resolutions. However, when behaviour escalates beyond civil disputes into criminal or persistent anti-social activity, we are firm in our approach. We use civil enforcement tools including Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) and Community Protection Notices (CPNs), and support housing partners in taking action where tenancy agreements are being breached. We are also committed to participating in ASB Case Review Panels, ensuring that all agencies involved share information and insight to fully understand complex situations and find the most effective solutions.