Latest news with #StokeonTrent
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent: Some children too scared to leave cells
Some children at a young offenders institute in Staffordshire say they are too scared to leave their cells, according to an inspectors' Werrington was also criticised for, on occasions, not unlocking the children's cells for several days in a row and for not giving them enough access to Inspectorate of Prisons made unannounced visits to the site near Stoke-on-Trent from 15 April to 2 May.A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, which runs the site, said they were committed to tackling the issues outlined in the report. "Education is fundamental to reducing reoffending," they said."We have already taken action to embed daily welfare checks and ensure there is more time for youth justice workers to support young offenders with meaningful activities." Inspectors reported offenders spending too long locked up and said staff failed to manage behaviour well enough. HMYOI Werrington houses 81 boys aged between 15 and 18, their report to inspectors, a survey of the children revealed that only about a third of them felt cared for by said about a fifth of children reported feeling unsafe said the curriculum at HMYOI Werrington was not challenging enough and did not help children prepare for life they did report that the latest inspection had found a more stable leadership than in previous years, with the governor being in post since the previous visit, and improvements had been made to address previous staffing shortages. It was last inspected in 2023, when it was found to be "an unstable establishment in need of substantial support".It was also described in a 2022 report as having higher levels of violence than any other in England and Wales. 'Completely unacceptable' HM chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor said: "Despite clear improvement in safeguarding procedures and some concerted efforts to reduce conflict and violence, the key challenges of weak relationships between staff and children and ineffective behaviour management remained."He added there was a culture of control and separation and that the average time out of cell was just three and a half hours per day."This would be poor in any prison but is completely unacceptable in one holding children," Mr Taylor time was largely taken up with managing the separation of those who had to be kept apart for safety reasons, the report noted, however, that the governor and her team were aware of shortcomings and had enacted an improvement plan to address them the month before the inspection. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warning: Fake Labubu toys being sold in Stoke-on-Trent shops
'Fake' Labubu toys are being sold in Stoke-on-Trent shops. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has issued the warning after complaints from shoppers. It comes as the parts on some toys are 'detaching easily'. A council spokesman said: "With the summer holidays in full swing, we are hearing more reports of fake Labubu toys being sold. The unsafe toys have parts that detach easily meaning they are a safety hazard for children." READ MORE: Police kick man out of Hanley and warn bikers and e-scooter riders READ MORE: First picture of Staffordshire biker, 65, killed in crash To report a fake Labubu toy, call citizen's advice on 0800 223 1133. Sign up for the latest breaking news and top stories from StokeonTrentLive on WhatsApp
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Rules aim to make Stoke-on-Trent's taxis safer and greener
Stricter rules aimed at making taxis in Stoke-on-Trent safer and greener have been given the green the changes made by the city council, drivers would have to undergo enhanced background checks, install CCTV cameras and notify the authority within 48 hours if they are questioned or arrested by rules would also mean only electric and hybrid taxis will be licensed by the council after April 2031, with petrol and diesel vehicles gradually phased out before firm owners and drivers were consulted on the planned changes and the majority were in favour, according to the council. The changes were approved by its cabinet on Tuesday and Councillor Chris Robinson said the measures were a "vital step in community safety"."We don't want people to just get from A to B, we want passengers to feel safe and comfortable on their journey," he stated."It is fundamental the taxi firms play a part in building a safer and greener city for all, with more than 1,760 city council licensed vehicles now operating in the city each year." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
DJ expects 'big things' at Stoke-on-Trent pottery museum rave
A DJ expects "big things" when he hosts a rave at a former pottery – the first to take place at the site in its 238-year Tilstone and a number of other artists will perform at the event at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, on told BBC Radio Stoke he was "excited and nervous" because it was the first time something like this had been pulled off at the site."It's a first for me and a first for the venue so I'm just double checking everything and hopefully it will go amazingly well," he added. Mr Tilstone, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, came up with the idea after he went around the city visiting places like Gladstone for a mix he put together on said he always imagined the energy of a place like Gladstone would be "absolutely amazing" when combined with the sound of dance music."It's a completely unique place, not just in the country but in the world," he said. A pottery factory first opened at Gladstone in 1787 but the bottle kilns were fired for the last time in 1960 before the site was put up for Grade II-listed building was eventually opened as a museum on 24 April 1975 by Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, and the city council took ownership in Tilstone said the rave, which sold out within three weeks, could help to re-energise the city's clubbing scene, with a second event booked at the site on 9 August."I think it's fair to say that the Stoke club scene has slowly degraded and got worse and worse over the last 15 years, much to everyone's disapproval," he said. "People have tried to fight it and unfortunately it's still going that way."He said the event was a "classic case of limited options forcing a bit of creativity out of a bad situation"."I'm not going to lie, I'm expecting big things from the Stokie crowd," he added. "I've heard so much about the history and energy we have as a people." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Port Vale FC announce plans for Stoke-on-Trent community campus
A community campus will be created near Port Vale Football Club after £2.3m of government funding was project will transform Sproson Park in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, and surrounding land by creating a community hub building, youth football pitches, a multi-use games area, padel courts and walking has been spearheaded by the football club, the Port Vale Foundation and Stoke-on-Trent City Vale co-owner and chair Carol Shanahan said it would be a "catalyst for positive change" in the Burslem community. "We are creating a place where people can be active, connect with others and feel proud of their local area," she said."The campus will provide a platform for long-term community activity, health support and wellbeing opportunities across all ages and abilities, while obviously creating a better community connection to Port Vale FC." Council leader Jane Ashworth said the funding awarded by the government was "fantastic news" during the city's centenary added: "It is a transformational project that will bring so many benefits to the community in terms of health, leisure and potential employment opportunities."The development will be led by sports development consultancy STRI, the council said, with planning, consultation and design works currently engagement events will be organised in the coming months and local partners, businesses and providers will have opportunities to be a part of the project. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
