Police have made three arrests and seized a number of cars as they continue to tackle crime in a city neighbourhood. Cops are to set up a regular ‘mobile police station’ in Shelton as they look to root out offenders and provide reassurance to families.
StokeonTrentLive had previously reported how residents living around Hanley Park and Shelton had highlighted gangs, drugs and fly-tipping as the main issues facing the area. Staffordshire Police are now carrying out regular sessions to speak with families along with rolling out the mobile police station in the area.
On Friday (January 10) and the force confirmed a drug search was carried out on a woman in the area where cannabis was seized. She was subsequently handed a community resolution.
Meanwhile a man was arrested who was recalled to prison, while a woman was arrested on suspicion of theft offences before being charged. Yesterday and officers with the road crime team (RCT) were out in and around Shelton and they confirmed ‘a number of vehicles’ were seized from drivers with no licence or insurance.
The police presence in Hanley Park and Shelton comes as part of the ongoing Making Great Places initiative which has seen the force team up with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. It has seen the authorities ‘target those involved in serious and organised crime’ while also responding to issues raised by families.
Vehicles were seized from in and around Shelton
The latest action in the neighbourhood comes after a seven-week sting in Shelton. StokeonTrentLive reported at the time how that operation resulted in 124 arrests with warrants also being executed.
Officers will now be around Shelton and Hanley Park every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening to speak to residents. The mobile police station will be parked at Mirchi carpark on Mondays between 10am and 2pm, the Ember Lounge at University of Staffordshire on Wednesdays between 10am and 2pm and Hanley Park Pavilion on Saturdays between 10am and 2pm.
In addition weekly lunchtime drop-in sessions are also being held at the YMCA on Mondays and ASHA on Fridays.
A spokesman for the force said: “We’re not slowing down on our continued efforts to make the city a better, cleaner and healthier place for our residents to live, work and visit. We’ve laid the foundations and have took the fight to serious organised crime groups over the last few months in our crackdown on offending. Now, we’re determined to work closely with the city council and our partner agencies to tackle the issues that local people care about the most. It’s absolutely vital at this stage that people continue to engage with us. If you’re worried about crime in your area, please call us on 101 or use Live Chat on our website.”
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