Council condemns violence after three arrests over bin men attacks

Bin men have been praised for their 'important public service' after two crews were attacked while doing their jobs.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has condemned violence against its staff after police today made three arrests after two refuse lorries were targeted in Birches Head last month.

A 17-year-old boy, from Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested on suspicion of Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent. A 23-year-old man, also from Stoke-on-Trent, is being held on suspicion of Section 18 wounding with intent, conspiring to assault a person occasioning them actual bodily harm, conspiring to possess a firearm without a certificate, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and criminal damage.

And a 19-year-old man, also from Stoke-on-Trent, was detained on suspicion of assault by beating.

In a statement, a Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesman said: “On Tuesday, March 21 two of our bin crews were assaulted while doing their jobs, delivering important public services for residents of Stoke-on-Trent. Today, Staffordshire Police have announced that they have arrested three more people in connection with this, after a man was arrested last month.

“Any violence against our staff is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and their loved ones, and we would like to praise and thank our crews for doing their jobs and supporting our city.

“Our teams work tirelessly to provide a public service and should not have their safety put at risk. We thank the emergency services for their prompt response and continue to assist in the inquiry in whatever way we can.”

Armed officers were called when violence erupted shortly after 11am on March 21. They were initially sent to Fairhaven Grove, where one refuse collector - aged in his 50s - had reportedly been punched and the wagon struck with a metal pole.

Officers were then diverted to Birches Head Road around half an hour later. It was reported that three Stoke-on-Trent City Council ^[2] bin men were assaulted with 'various tools'. One man was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital with face, head and torso injuries. Two others received medical treatment at the scene before being discharged.

The incidents - which detectives believe to be linked - led to waste collections in the city being suspended as door-to-door inquiries were carried out an appeals were issued for witnesses, CCTV and dashcam footage.

In an update two weeks on from the incidents, Staffordshire Police said today: "We arrested two men and a teenage boy this morning in connection with the assaults on a number of refuse collectors last month. A number of refuse collectors were assaulted on Tuesday, March 21 in Birches Head. They all remain in custody."

Joe Cordon, 27, from Stoke-on-Trent, appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre last month in connection with the incidents. He is charged with wounding with intent, two counts of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and two counts of criminal damage. He was remanded in custody to appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on April 28.

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