Stoke-on-Trent City Council has announced a plan to create the most family-friendly streets in the country. 

The new action plan includes a crackdown on anti-social behaviour, work to tackle rough sleeping, and more support for local businesses and attractions. 

The council said that partnership work in Hanley has already seen a marked fall in reported crime over the last 12 months, with anti-social behaviour down by 30 per cent and drug possession and supply down by 13 per cent. 

Trading standards have removed nearly £100,000 worth of illegal and unsafe goods from the market over the past 12 months and has been actively pursuing closure orders against premises repeatedly caught offending. 

As part of the drive to create family-friendly streets, the council also aims to step up work to tackle rough sleeping. 

That includes sourcing extra accommodation, including night shelters, and increasing the capacity of the rough sleeper team. 

Under the plan, experts in drugs, alcohol, mental health, and housing would work together to provide intensive support for rough sleepers, and the council will work with partners to provide activities at its homeless hub to help build skills and confidence. 

The council has also reaffirmed that rough sleepers will be expected to abide by the zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour and crime and have cleared three unauthorised encampments in Hartshill and Shelton. 

The new family-friendly streets initiative aims to build on this year's heritage and Centenary events such as the People's Parade, the Art on Your Doorstep exhibition and the unveiling of a statue of local hero and Motorhead guitarist, Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. 

The Lemmy statue in Burslem was unveiled earlier this year (image via Nub News)

The council has also explained that they are overseeing major improvements aimed at supporting businesses and encouraging more visitors to town centres across Stoke-on-Trent. 

Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Our Centenary programme of events – including the hugely successful People's Parade – have seen tens of thousands of people come together in joy and celebration. 

"Our city has put its best foot forward in the national, and even international, spotlight. 

"To build on this momentum, we need to not just provide things for people to do and see, and places for them to go – we need to make our streets more family-friendly, too. 

"We've stepped up enforcement and seen excellent results. And we are tackling the complex issue of rough sleeping – intervening earlier and providing more effective holistic help. 

 "At the same time, we recognise that rough sleeping can sometimes be associated with anti-social or erratic behaviour driven by drug use and alcoholism. Helping doesn't mean turning a blind eye to unacceptable behaviour. 

 "Our streets are for everyone. We all have a right to feel safe and to enjoy this fantastic city. We're already known as the friendliest city in the country. 

"Let's make sure we have the most family-friendly streets." 

 Chief Inspector Laura Davies, from the Stoke North local policing team, said: "It's really pleasing to see the positive results we are achieving with our partners across the city in addressing the key concerns of local people, businesses and visitors. 

 "More than 260 people were arrested as part of our Making Great Places work alone across Hanley Park and Shelton, alongside further reductions in crime as part of our hotspot policing patrols initiative which has been rolled out across the city. 

 "We're working hard every single day alongside our partners in Stoke-on-Trent to take robust action against those causing harm and to deal with the problems that matter the most to the communities we proudly serve." 

Jonathan Bellamy, chair of Stoke BID, said: "In a centenary year, we have been celebrating not just being six towns, but being a city. 

Jonathan Bellamy, chair of Stoke BID, celebrated the city centre's Cultural Quarter housing the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery (image via Nub News)

"Our city centre is the focal point, the heart, that represents this status. How we manage it - the level of quality, care, creativity, investment and vision we put into it - reflects to ourselves and to the country where we are at as that city. 

"Thankfully there is much we can celebrate within our city centre that is top drawer: the exceptional Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall venues, the world class Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, a vibrant Cultural Quarter, filled modern office blocks and Hilton Garden Inn at Smithfield, the area's best shopping centre and the best offer of restaurants and bars. 

"However, high streets will continue to decline and people will go elsewhere unless the basics - high-quality cleanliness, speed of response to maintenance issues, and a zero tolerance to pervasive and unacceptable anti-social behaviour - actually meet the expectations of the people we want to see using our high streets. 

"The focus of these actions are very welcome and much needed to address some of the underlying issues that can eat away at the core of our high streets 

"We at the BID very much support this focus and are committed in actively partnering with the council to help achieve these standards."