Stoke Streets Set for More Police Patrols
Plus Keele helps with missing persons enquiries, Claybody Theatre is collecting your memories of Burslem Market Hall, and five events worth checking out…
Today, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more
Good News 🎉
👮 More Bobbies on the Beat. Stoke-on-Trent has been assigned two additional dedicated neighbourhood police officers to drive down crime in the city. PC Warren Dooley and PC Matthew Whiston will provide a visible presence across the city’s town centres, working closely with the city council’s ASB team and other local partners. Focused activity in Fenton, Shelton, and Tunstall has already contributed to reductions in crime and ASB of around 20 percent, while the joint Weeding Them Out campaign has removed £246,000 worth of illegal goods and helped deliver a 50 per-cent year-on-year reduction in cannabis grows.
🥊 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Tommy Shaw 🥊
This 20-year-old construction site worker from Norton stepped into the Ultra Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) cage at Fenton Manor to raise money for the Stroke Association after his mum suffered a life-limiting stroke that resulted in him and his siblings going into care. Participants like Tommy take part in eight weeks of free professional MMA training at gyms before the big showcase. Tommy loved the experience so much that he now represents Stoke Combat Academy in K-1 kickboxing and took home silver at his first tournament. How did he find the experience? He told The Knot, “In the beginning, showing up on days when I didn’t feel 100% was hard as someone who struggles with their mental health. But I realised how much the training was helping very quickly into the process; it was clearing my head and made me feel so much better about myself.” He’s now focusing more on kickboxing to see how far he can go with it. Inspired to take part in an Ultra MMA event? There’s more info here.
Sponsored content from Hanley Economic Building Society
💷 Helping Students Manage Their Cash. Hanley Economic Building Society is set to visit Discovery Academy on 02/07 to deliver an interactive financial education session aimed at helping students develop essential money skills for the future. The session will focus on saving, budgeting, and how to manage finances effectively. With financial awareness becoming increasingly important, the initiative aims to give young people a strong foundation for later life. The visit forms part of the building society’s ongoing commitment to supporting local communities and helping the next generation make informed financial decisions.
🧍Keele Helps with Missing Persons Inquiries. The university’s forensic science programme , named as the best place in England to study the subject in the Complete University Guide 2027, is helping investigators with long-standing missing persons' cases, using cutting-edge techniques to support police forces and families searching for answers. Staff have been involved in several recent cold case investigations across the UK. Last year, they supported a search in Manchester relating to the disappearance of a woman last seen in 1969, and also assisted with an investigation into the disappearance of an 18-year-old in 1998.
Keele professors are helping investigators solve cold cases
🎭 Claybody Theatre Teams up with Burslem Market Hall. A new community heritage project is inviting local people to celebrate and share their stories of the market, which has been closed for 23 years. Delivered by Claybody Theatre and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, STALL STORIES: Collecting Memories of Burslem Market Hall will see Shop 32 on Queen Street transform into a community engagement and exhibition space featuring a viewing window onto the ongoing market works, alongside exhibition boards displaying redevelopment ideas. Claybody will be in the shop every Saturday, 10am-1pm, from 27/06-25/07.
😃 Our top Five Don’t-miss Events this Week. Yellow by Keep it local is hosting a 4th of July Independent (Business) Day at its Hanley store, featuring festival fashion advice and free crafts for children; some products marked 20% off. SOT Youth Collective is hosting the LIFT Youth Festival (26/07) at Northwood from 1pm-4pm, with live music from local artists and DJ’s; admission free. It’s a bit further afield, but if you love Lord of the Rings, don’t miss the Tolkien Weekend in Great Haywood (11–12/07; 10am-4pm), an annual celebration exploring the area’s links to J. R. R. Tolkien through guided walks, talks, history, and family activities; admission free. Country fans, prepare to be transported on a musical journey through the history the genre at A Country Night in Nashville at the Victoria Hall (08/08, 7.30pm), featuring songs from Dolly Parton to Kacey Musgraves performed by Dominic Halpin & The Hurricanes; tickets from £33.80. Finally, book Creative Studio Courses at Wedgwood (from 07/09); there’s a five-week Hand-Building Pottery Course (Mondays 10am-12.30pm) or a five-week Throwing Course (Mondays 2pm-4.30pm); £175 per person.
🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot
We've all heard people say that Stoke's streets – usually Hanley in particular – aren't safe, with some claiming they avoid the city centre altogether, especially after dark. However, recent figures paint a more encouraging picture.
A joint “Winter of Action” initiative by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police reported a 9% reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour across the city’s town centres between December 2025 and January 2026. Meanwhile, Staffordshire Police’s local priorities update for Hanley Park and Shelton found that environmental improvements, partnership working, and community engagement contributed to a 20% reduction in overall crime in the area.
The measures included clearing fly-tipping, securing derelict buildings, and improving public spaces, alongside increased police visibility and community engagement.
Inspector Rebecca Price, of the Stoke-on-Trent South local policing team, said: “The two officers dedicated to town centres across Stoke-on-Trent will work to build relationships with local businesses and communities, whilst tackling issues that matter most to them.”
She added that PC Dooley and PC Whiston will maintain a visible presence in areas with high footfall and encouraged anyone needing assistance to approach them.
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🛳️ Guided Cruises Across Trentham Lake: Set sail across Trentham’s Capability Brown lake from 24/07-14/08. Tickets cost £7 per person.
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon ☁️ 27° (17°) Tue 🌧️ 27° (15°) Wed 🌧️ 26° (14°) Thu 🌧️ 26° (14°) Fri 🌥️27° (16°)
Sat ⛅️ 27° (16°) Sun ⛅️ 24° (14°).
Sunrise 22/06: 04.43 ☀️ Sunset 22/06: 21.39 🌅