14.03.23 – Road Resurfacing in Hanley, County Lines Intensification Week Results

Work has started on a road resurfacing programme in part Hanley city centre.

Sections of Albion Square will be resurfaced as part of efforts to improve the key transport route for shoppers and businesses.  The works will last for up to six weeks, will require the full closure of the carriageway within Albion Square.

The pedestrian access will not be affected but a number of diversions for vehicles will be in place while resurfacing work is ongoing:

Businesses affected by the resurfacing works have been informed via letters from Stoke-on-Trent City Council and signage was put in place in advance of the works starting

• Buses will be diverted along Potteries Way to access the bus station;
• Access to Stafford Street will be limited to taxis and deliveries;
• Access into Percy Street, Tontine Street and Parliament Row will remain via Old Hall Street but exit will be by turning right into Stafford Street (the bus lane and one-way will be reversed for the period of the works);
• Changes to access and egress to Cheapside will be put in place at a later date during the works, but will be maintained until then.

Councillor James Smith, cabinet member for infrastructure, heritage and development management, said: “We have, and are continuing, to work hard to upgrade the city’s road network to make it easier for drivers and pedestrians to travel around Stoke-on-Trent and this latest work is a testament to our commitment to doing just that.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption while this important work is carried out.”

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Staffordshire Police have made more than 25 arrests and seized more than two kilograms of class A and B drugs as part of a national week-long campaign working with partners to disrupt county lines drug activity.
A total of 28 people were arrested in Staffordshire as part of County Lines Intensification Week which ran from 27 February to 5 March.
The operation saw local officers and detectives proactively target individuals and locations to disrupt drugs supply across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, as well as identifying and protecting vulnerable victims.
During the week whilst responding to intelligence and community concerns, a total of £9,100 in cash and 175 cannabis plants were seized, along with over two kilograms of class A and B drugs.

A total of 20 vulnerable people were also safeguarded after officers visited 46 addresses of potential victims of cuckooing.
Cuckooing is when criminals, often associated with organised drug gangs, target vulnerable members of the community and take over their home. They will then exploit the person who lives there and use the property for criminality including for the storage or trafficking of drugs. It can also be used as an enforced  base for another vulnerable person who will often be exploited to move, carry and sell the drugs.
The criminal groups often target children, young adults or vulnerable people who may be coerced through grooming, threats or violence.
As a result of our work, Police were able to bring to an end three county drug lines as well as seize a large number of dangerous weapons and illegal knives.
In addition to our operational efforts, officers also delivered more than 170 county line awareness sessions in a number of schools across the county and undertook leaflet drops and online engagement sessions  to help our communities spot the signs of exploitation and enable the police to signpost those at-risk to the relevant support groups.

Detective Superintendent Nicki Addison, from the Major and Organised Crime department at Staffordshire Police, said: “Although we proactively target county lines criminality  throughout the year, this intensification week gave us the opportunity to work as team across the force and with partners to target those causing harm in our communities. This helped us to identify those causing  harm, bring people to justice whilst also stopping  three major drug lines operating in Staffordshire.
“Going forwards, with our partners we are committed to tackling this criminality through targeting the crime groups responsible, ensuring that we continue to protect our most vulnerable and make Staffordshire a safe place for our communities.”
To find out more about what Staffordshire Police are doing to tackle county lines, visit: County lines | Staffordshire Police.
To report suspicious activity or criminality in your area, visit: Your area | Staffordshire Police.