Sandyford and Goldenhill

David Williams, Stoke on Trent North M.P. supports Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association, along with Councillor Chandra Kanneganti to reinstate a named police officer since the last one was transferred out of the area earlier in the year.

Staffordshire police say there are a number of police officers who operate across the north of the city, and cover the Sandyford & Goldenhill area, which the residents association accepts, but when as a residents group for the first time in over 25 years are unable to invite a P.C. to its public meetings seems to be a step backwards by the force. The association is also unable to send out its meeting minutes to a police constable, and as in previous years a nominated P.C. has an interest in the area, and if and when they are able to do so, they would visit hot spot areas to give advice and support to businesses to deal with e.g. antisocial behaviour.

Staffordshire Police also say that a new Police Sergeant has been introduced within the team to help address any concerns of support, although this may appear as additional support to the area, but unfortunately the residents association has always had support from its Sergeants for over a quarter of a century.

It is unfortunate that within months of a good working relationship, especially when Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association has supported the police for more than 25 years through its Community Speedwatch project, and reporting articles of advice and criminal activity through its social media sites that such a small request has been overlooked by a force when neighbourhood policing should be at a forefront as indicated by the Prime Minister.

Since the middle of 2024, Staffordshire Police have removed a designated police officer from the Sandyford & Goldenhill area.

The resident’s association has fought this decision by speaking to the Police Chief Inspector and Police City Superintendent to reinstate a named police constable, which has been refused.

The Police & Crime Commissioner has also been contacted, and again he advised that he is unable to interfere with operational decisions, although the resident’s association believes he could have persuaded in part to support the P.C. reinstatement.

David Williams M.P. has approached and pressured senior police officials to support the resident’s association, and asked them to review their decision to reinstate a named police officer. Councillor Chandra Kanneganti has also shown support requesting the reinstating of a named P.C.

Staffordshire Police advise that the area is better off now because wherever police are required within the city then they can be dispatched, emphasising that Sandyford/Goldenhill benefits with this system in place.

The resident’s association can report they are unable to invite a named police constable to attend its public meetings for the first time in over 25 years, and for the January 2025 meeting the Sergeant, who we have had no contact with, and the PCSO are off duty and unable to attend.

Staffordshire police say we have a PCSO, previously two, who represents the area, although their rota operates with almost as many days off than on, as well as being transferred to other parts of the city when needed.

The requests being asked for by the resident’s association, is for Staffordshire police to nominate a P.C. to take some interest in Sandyford/Goldenhill by receiving meeting minutes for updates, invitations to meetings 3 x per year and when in the area, if time allows to visit locations and give support and reassurance to residents and businesses as was in place earlier this year, “it’s a no brainer for such a request” or as they claim if they nominate a P.C. for one area then they would have to do the same elsewhere, and if this were to happen, then what would be the problem. The named Police Constable who was in place earlier this year gave support, along with P.C. predecessors to various locations, including a restaurant to help prevent antisocial behaviour, which was seen as a positive step by on site staff.

Neighbourhood policing is to work with resident’s groups, as does Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association in return, and when asked to start up a speedwatch group, it agreed, also the association with its website (210,000 hits in 14 years) & Facebook page (9,500 followers), it posts information from the police to address criminal activity etc, and many times when residents visit the site they sometimes pass on useful information.  

Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association with a 17 strong committee, aged from early 20’s to 80’s, mixed genders, and all from different backgrounds wants to work with the police, but it has no intention of not standing up for itself, when feeling the decision being made is the wrong one.  

Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association, David Williams M.P. & Councillor Chandra Kanneganti wish to continue constructive dialogue for our request, and it would be advantageous to all parties concerned if the police could arrange an urgent response.