Crime and anti-social behaviour across Stoke-on-Trent’s town centres has fallen following a coordinated Winter of Action led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police.
The two-month programme, running from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026, brought together targeted enforcement, environmental action and direct support for vulnerable residents to improve safety and public confidence.
Since the start of 2025, work has shown:
- A 9 per cent reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour across town centres
- A 37 per cent increase in council-led enforcement, engagement and support activity
- A 65 per cent increase in Trading Standards enforcement action
Trading Standards officers carried out targeted raids across the city, seizing 69,000 illicit cigarettes, 17,000 counterfeit cigarettes, 113 counterfeit vapes and two kilograms of illegal tobacco. Officers completed 33 test purchases to gather evidence, closed one premises immediately and scheduled six further closures.
Road safety enforcement also formed part of the operation. A multi-agency stop check on Leek Road examined 120 vehicles. Officers issued 31 tickets for offences including seatbelt breaches, illegal tyres, tinted windows and unsecured children. Nine vehicles were seized for having no insurance and four arrests were made for drink driving, drug driving and outstanding warrants.
More than 60 partner organisations took part in coordinated days of action. In Hanley Park, teams recovered a knife during a weapon sweep and removed 12 bags of rubbish during a large-scale clean-up.
Alongside enforcement, the council strengthened support for people sleeping rough. The rough sleeping team is currently working with 104 people on its active caseload.
During the Winter of Action period, 24 people were supported into accommodation, including 20 into medium-term housing. When severe weather hit in January, the council activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol and provided emergency accommodation to 48 of the 80 individuals identified during that period.
More than £1.4 million will now support further prevention, recovery and move-on pathways through the city’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, as the partnership approach continues throughout 2026.
Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for safe and resilient communities at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:
“This Winter of Action has delivered clear, measurable results. Crime is down, enforcement is up and we have taken firm action against illegal trading and anti-social behaviour.
“We have also supported vulnerable people into accommodation and strengthened our partnership approach across the city.
“We will continue this work throughout 2026 to ensure our town centres are safe, welcoming places for residents, businesses and visitors.”
Chief Inspector Laura Davies, of the Stoke North local policing team and force lead for anti-social behaviour (ASB), said: “By working with partners to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in town centres across Stoke-on-Trent, we have been able to reduce reports by almost nine per cent.
“I hope these results show that we are committed to tackling issues that matter most to local people, businesses and communities.
"This won't stop as we approach the spring and summer months, and I can assure people that we will continue to work proactively with partners to tackle local issues robustly and effectively.”
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