Neighbours react to latest Leicester stabbing: ‘Only now, with the police here, do I actually feel safe’
Residents living near the scene of a Leicester stabbing[1] have spoken of their experiences of crime and drug use in their neighbourhood. Leicestershire Police[2] officers were called to a car park near the junction with Kate Street, just off the A47 King Richards Road, shortly after 11pm on Monday (May 19), where they found a 38-year-old man with stab wounds. The car park was cordoned off for much of yesterday (Tuesday, May 20), with police investigations appearing to focus on a van parked within it. LeicestershireLive spoke to people who live next to the scene, some of whom said they did not feel safe there and many of whom said their streets had been plagued by anti-social behaviour - and that the car park was a magnet for it.
Two men have been arrested[3] in connection with the stabbing, which happened at about 11pm. Tia Valksane, 50, who lives opposite the car park, said: "This area is basically not safe at all. "All the time there are people about, drinking, using drugs.
Only now, with the police here, do I actually feel safe." Ahmed Aldilami, 60, whose flat overlooks the car park where the incident happened, said the car park was an ongoing issue for neighbours. He said: "I've lived here for 30 years and all that time, that car park has been too much of a problem.
"I call the council about what happens there all the time. You often see [people who cause problems] in cars, shouting and doing grass, selling drugs.
The area has been sealed off by police (Image: Tom Mack)"I've seen them injecting drugs into their arms. My wife is scared to go outside.
They need to close the car park." Melvin Evans, 65, who lives nearby, said: "There are things going on all the time in this area. I'm not scared to be out, but then I never go out at night.
"You mostly hear about things happening in Narborough Road but there were about four cars [with people in doing something similar] over in Tewksbury Street at about 5am the other morning, and now this has happened. It does seem to be getting more dangerous." The grey van which police appeared to be looking at as part of their investigations has its rear number plate sprayed black and a smashed window and has been in the car park for several weeks, one resident told LeicestershireLive.
Police have not said how or if it is linked to their inquiry.
References
- ^ scene of a Leicester stabbing (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Leicestershire Police (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Two men have been arrested (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Man found stabbed in Leicester car park - two arrested on suspicion of attempted murder (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)