House raids under Terrorism Act

Staffordshire Police have called for help from the community

Police have raided five homes in Stoke-on-Trent under the Terrorism Act.

The raids were part of an investigation into a "small group of people" suspected of being involved in promoting violent extremist views.

No-one has been arrested following searches in the Cobridge, Burslem and Tunstall areas of the city.

Staffordshire Police said the operation posed no direct risk to public safety and they have called on the local community to remain vigilant.

Vulnerable

Officers searched three houses in Cobridge, one in Burslem and one in Tunstall earlier, and said they would continue searching four of the five houses during the afternoon.

Staffordshire Police said they had acted on the community's concerns and said the raids were the "latest stage" of an investigation into a small group of people suspected of "radicalising vulnerable community members".

Ch Supt Jane Sawyers, divisional commander for Stoke-on-Trent, said neighbourhood officers were out in force to reassure the community.

She said community leaders had been fully briefed on the operation and called on local people to work together with police to tackle extremism.

"We can only tackle the real and serious threat posed to us all by violent extremism if we all work together," she said.