Community shares concerns after recent stabbings

Jackie and Ellis Howe called for more policing

People living near the scene of a triple stabbing last week have told of their concerns about the neighbourhood.

Police and local councillors had a walkabout in Paston, Peterborough, on Friday in a bid to reassure the community that their concerns were being heard, and they emphasised that the stabbings were being treated as an isolated incident.

But Vicky Hammond, a resident in Paston for the past five years, said she was "scared to live in the area", and called for more visible policing.

Jackie and Ellis Howe, who have lived in Freston, Paston, for more than 30 years, said they were "worried for the elderly" because of anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Conservative councillor Alex Rafiq organised the walkabout after concerned residents contacted him

Cambridgeshire Police said it had increased visible patrols in the area over the past week after the stabbings last Friday.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested for grievous bodily harm and bailed until November.

Alex Rafiq, a councillor for the Paston and Walton ward, said he had received a lot of messages since the incident.

"Residents wanted reassurance that this is not going to be brushed under the carpet, and today's walkabout has definitely helped," he said.

Ch Insp Ollie Warsop said police wanted to reassure people that concerns were being taken seriously

Ch Insp Ollie Warsop told the BBC the force "appreciates how seriously the community feel about serious violence".

“We have addressed most concerns with putting in place the officers to engage with the residents,” he said.

"The local neighbourhood team will have addressed a wider range of issues here, including from ASB to burglary and vehicle crime.

"We are also concerned [about] domestic abuse and child sexual exploitation."

Police officers have engaged with residents in Paston since the stabbings

Christy, who did not wish to give her surname, said recent developments had been frightening.

“I have lived here for a long time... it is not a good place to walk alone in the evening," she said.

"You get gangs of youths hanging around... they might be OK but it's intimidating."

She said the area also had a "massive problem" with litter and fly-tipping.

Vicky Hammond said Paston was "scary"

Mr and Mrs Howe said that although Paston was often labelled as being "rough", they "wouldn't want to live anywhere else".

“You could end up being at the wrong place at the wrong time and then you might end up being part of the isolated incident,” Mr Howe said.

"But the area goes through stages… where for years it is really rough but then it has time when it’s lovely – it's so green and leafy."

Mrs Hammond said that, as a mother, she had felt "on the edge" in the area.

"I'm afraid of letting my children outside," she said.

Three people were stabbed in Freston last week

'Open to dialogue'

Ch Insp Warsop said engaging with young people was a "difficult barrier" to break down.

"We take opportunities to talk to young people... but we understand a lot of them don’t want to talk to the police," he said.

"We are always open to having that two-way dialogue with anyone."