‘DANGEROUS GANG MUST BE STOPPED’
Group known as ‘T2’ tag street furniture
A GANG known as ‘T2’ has been marking its ‘territory’ by tagging city centre bus stops and signs as tensions with rival groups on the streets rise.
The youths have been leaving their distinctive symbol on street furniture near to high-rise flats in the Bucknall New Road area of Hanley as part of a ‘turf war’.
They tend to gather in the evenings around bus stops on Bucknall New Road and St Ann Street. T2 has been operating near the tower blocks for years, but it has been increasing its patch in recent months.
Most of the incidents involve graffiti, criminal damage and intimidation, but there are fears this could lead to more serious crimes such as drug-dealing.
Worried families have been warned not to approach members but instead report issues to the police.
Now they are calling on officers to step up patrols to combat antisocial behaviour linked to T2.
Rob Dyson, of Seddon Court, who is secretary of the newlyformed Bucknall New Road Estate Residents’ Association, said: “There seems to be a gang going around the flats and destroying street signs and causing trouble, and it needs to be stopped and addressed.
“The police need to increase their patrols to try to locate these gangs. It’s an issue that comes up at our meetings.
“They deface street signs which causes an expense for Stoke-ontrent City Council to replace them. Pictures: Malcolm Hart
“They hang around the bus stops on Bucknall New Road, they’re coming here from as far as Northwood Park. I’ve seen them climbing on top of the bus stop shelters and causing general anti-social behaviour. It’s mainly nuisance stuff.”
Rob, aged 43, added: “I want Staffordshire Police to work with our residents’ association and increase their patrols on Bucknall New Road to try to locate the gang and give them a dispersal order, so they can’t return here.
“They’re dangerous and it’s been going on for quite some time. They aren’t just hanging around on Bucknall New Road, they’re going on to Linfield Road by the flats now.
“We need to stop the gangs because a lot of the residents have young children who play outside on the estate and they don’t want them getting involved with gangs and getting into trouble.”
Police have confirmed they are aware of the T2 gang.
Chief Inspector John Owen said: “We are aware of an increase in anti-social behaviour and are working with partners to address some of the issues raised. We take anti-social behaviour very seriously, and are doing all we can with the resources available to us.”
A crackdown on T2 comes as concerns were last week raised that gang culture is spreading from London to North Staffordshire after seven knife crimes involving teenagers in two weeks. ■ To report anti-social behaviour, call Staffordshire Police on 101.