Business owner praises police response to anti-social behaviour in Bucknall
A Stoke-on-Trent business owner has praised police officers for an “outstanding” response to long-running anti-social behaviour outside his shop.
Last updated 10th Feb 2026
Sriy Nadesan, who owns Twigg Stores on Twigg Street in Bucknall, said the business had faced persistent problems for several years, including shoplifting, disruptive behaviour and verbal abuse towards staff.
Police said the issues were addressed after PC Chris Cipolla joined Staffordshire Police’s City Intervention Team (CIT), which was established in September last year to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots across the city.
The CIT works proactively to reduce demand on neighbourhood and response policing teams by carrying out hotspot patrols, targeting high-risk offenders and conducting stop-and-search operations.
PC Cipolla said that when he joined the team, it quickly became clear that Twigg Stores was regularly affected by youths threatening staff and taking items without paying.
He said officers gathered evidence, spoke to witnesses and worked closely with the shop owner, leading to several teenagers being identified and arrested. Youth offending referrals are now under way.
Police said that since the intervention, no further incidents have been reported at the store, compared with 25 reports prior to the problem-solving approach being introduced.
Following the operation, Mr Nadesan wrote to PC Cipolla to thank him for his support, describing the work as having made a “meaningful and positive change”.
He said the consistent police presence and proactive approach had significantly reduced shoplifting and disruptive behaviour, adding that for the first time in many years he and his staff felt a sense of peace and safety.
Between September and December 2025, the City Intervention Team dealt with around 310 incidents across Stoke-on-Trent and made 130 arrests, police said.
Staffordshire Police added that officers have also carried out more than 13,000 hours of overtime patrols in crime hotspot areas across the county, contributing to a nine per cent reduction in overall crime in those locations.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said the work demonstrated how targeted, problem-solving policing could address issues affecting local communities and businesses.
He encouraged anyone experiencing anti-social behaviour to report it, adding that tackling such issues remained a priority.