Searches end in extremism probe

Staffordshire Police have called for help from the community

Police in Stoke-on-Trent investigating a group of people suspected of promoting extremist views have completed searches of five homes.

Staffordshire Police raided the houses on Tuesday under the Terrorism Act. Four vehicles were also seized.

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

A police spokesman thanked local people for their "patience and co-operation" during the operation.

Police say they have recovered a "significant amount" of property, including literature, documents and computers, from the houses.

"The investigation is ongoing and detectives are continuing to examine and assess items recovered from the addresses," a spokesman said on Wednesday.

'Low-key searches'

The raids were part of an investigation launched last autumn, which police said had been prompted by concerns from within the local community.

They said the searches were "latest stage of the force's investigation to resolve them and help establish the facts".

Two thousand leaflets have been issued to residents outlining the operation and a DVD sent to 400 homes.

Officers said the operation presented no risk to public safety and people living nearby should "maintain normal, everyday life".

Local residents said the raids had been "low-key".

Police have issued an appeal for anyone with any information that could help their investigation.