Rough sleepers and the associated drug use, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and criminality is an ongoing priority.
The high quantity of rough sleepers in Hanley is having an impact on Hanley Town Centre and crimes such as shoplifting are increasing.

Local officers are working in conjunction with the Rough Sleepers Team to verify rough sleepers and look for alternative accommodation and provide the correct support to prevent crime. We continue to work alongside the commissioned service for rough sleeping, Brighter Futures who run Hanley Connect, a drop-in centre for service users to receive the offers of housing and drug / alcohol support along with facilities such as clean clothes and showers.

We have increased patrols in this area by way of PCSOs responding to ASB hot spots and patrolling specific locations within Hanley Town centre.

Enforcement will be used where appropriate and the use of Community Protection Warnings and notices are frequent along with the use of Criminal Behaviour Orders under more serious circumstances.
Section 34 Dispersal Authorities are used when appropriate to remove problem people from specific areas of the Town Centre.