25.11.22 – Violence Reduction Alliance, Trailer Theft in NUL, HAF Programme, Local Weekend Football

Staffordshire Police and partners under the Violence Reduction Alliance of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire are continuing to tackle violence against women and girls after the successful introduction of a number of local initiatives.
Last year, after a number of tragic events including the murder of Sarah Everard, Staffordshire Police and forces nationally committed to making the streets safer and to ensuring there is a robust approach to both the prevention of violence and the protection of those who don’t feel safe.
Since then, the Violence Reduction Alliance – backed by successful Safer Streets and Safety of Women at Night Commissioner funding bids totalling £850,000, have made headway by; improving open spaces and walkways with additional lighting and CCTV; developing educational and campaign materials to drive public awareness; and encouraging businesses to sign up to a Safer Places Charter as well as vulnerability training for night time economy staff.
The funding has also enabled designated safe places to be established within Newcastle-under-Lyme,  Hanley and Stafford, where the public can seek advice and support on a regular basis under the Alliance’s broadest aim of reducing violence and driving public safety.

For businesses wanting to know more about how they can support the Violence Reduction Alliance and its projects, including how to sign up to the Charter and have access to vulnerability training, visit: Resources – Violence Reduction Alliance

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Staffordshire Police are appealing for information after a large amount of kitchen and household electronics were stolen from a trailer in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

At some point between 9pm on Thursday (17 November) and 5am the following morning (Friday 18 November), offenders slashed the back of an HGV which was parked in a layby on the A500.

Once inside, they took a total of eight pallets containing Dutch kitchen appliances including grills, rice cookers, hoovers and juicers.

The HGV was an Iveco Stralis. It was parked in a layby no further than about 200 metres away from the Barthomley roundabout, just off junction 16 of the M6.

Anyone with any information or dashcam footage of the area at the time of the theft is being urged to get in touch.  Contact Staffordshire Police on 101, Facebook or Twitter, quoting incident 57 of 18 November.

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Thousands of Staffordshire families are set to benefit from extra support during the Christmas school holidays.

Staffordshire County Council’s Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme is available to eligible children aged between five and sixteen on benefits related free school meals.

The programme includes physical play, fun activities, nutritional advice and a healthy hot meal where possible. Funding is provided by the Department for Education.

Activities will start on Monday 19 December and run until 30^th December.

All those eligible for the programme will receive a letter via their school.

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In local football, on Saturday, Crewe Alexandra will be travelling to the Oakwell Stadium to face Barnsley in the second round of the FA Cup. Crewe have been knocked out of the Cup by Barnsley three times in the past – the latest being in 2020. On Wednesday, Port Vale beat Bansley by two goals to 1 in the Football League Trophey.

In local non league football this Saturday, all of our teams are away – Trafford play Newcastle Town, Widnes play Kidsgrove Athletic and Witton Albion take on Hanley Town.