Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has pledged to do everything possible to support police in the fight against knife crime following two stabbing incidents in the city.
The PCC supports a tough approach to violence and has promised to back Leicestershire Police – and its frontline officers - to take whatever action necessary to remove dangerous weapons and criminals off the county’s streets.
He was speaking after two separate incidents in the city over the past two days.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, Usman Patel, aged 32, was attacked and murdered at around 2.18am near a residential property on Green Lane Road, North Evington, Leicester. He received multiple stab wounds to his body and despite the best efforts of East Midlands Ambulance Service, he died at the scene.
In a separate incident at 4.20am on Tuesday (20/7/21), police were called to a fight in Belgrave Gate where a 21-year-old man was found with stab wounds. He was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
Detectives have arrested four people, aged 22, 22, 23 and 26, on suspicion of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) who remain in police custody.
Mr Matthews said: “These are two truly terrible incidents and my thoughts are with the families of the victims.
“Tragic incidents like these remind us that we still have a long way to go to eradicate the violent warfare on our streets. I remain convinced only a hard-hitting approach will do.
“We simply must take tougher action against those who carry weaponry on our streets and present a risk to other people. This is why I am fully behind the robust and effective use of stop and search on our streets and ensuring police have the resources and protective technology they need to keep themselves and local people safe.
“While I believe in the power of preventative work to tackle the root causes of violence and gang crime – and will fund such work through my budget – we must invest greater support and faith in our officers who are working on the ground to combat the immediate threat.
“We must identify and target the most serious and prolific offenders and get them before the courts while dealing out strong punishments as a warning to those tempted to go down the same road.
“I will ensure the police have all the support and confidence they need to tackle the dangerous people who jeopardise our safety and restore power in the hands of the law-abiding public. While these events are shocking, the police are doing everything possible to keep people safe and track the perpetrators of such incidents and I am fully behind their efforts.”
ENDS
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Posted on Tuesday 20th July 2021