Police to use extra powers in Hanley today as probe underway into stabbing

Officers had been seen 'everywhere'

Dave Knapper West Midlands Content Editor

06:51, 19 Aug 2026

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Police were spotted across Hanley yesterday evening

Police will use extra powers in Hanley today (August 19) as the force continues to probe a city centre stabbing. Officers had descended on the area yesterday evening after reports 'a suspected teenage boy had been stabbed following a fight involving a group of young people.'

As reported by The Sentinel witnesses claimed to have spotted dozens of officers across the city centre including on Parliament Row, Upper Market Square and at the bus station. The alarm had first been raised at 5.50pm yesterday evening.

Last night a spokesperson said: "We were called to Upper Market Square in Hanley following a report that a suspected teenage boy had been stabbed following a fight involving a group of young people.

"A 17-year-old boy, from Stafford, has been assessed at the scene by paramedics. He was taken to hospital but has since been arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article in a public place and affray."

Following the disorder senior officers rolled out a Section 34 dispersal order for the middle of Hanley. It gives the force 'additional powers' to disperse individuals and 'reduce the likelihood of members of the public being harassed, alarmed, distressed or the occurrence of crime and disorder.'

Such orders will usually mean the recipient is banned from a designated area for a certain period of time. Breaching the order can result in an arrest.

Meanwhile it also means officers can take those under 16 to their home address.

Today an investigation is likely to continue into the trouble with witnesses urged to call 101 and quote incident 703 of August 18.

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Further updates will appear in our dedicated blog here.

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