Residents feel unsafe on city street
Gordon Wilkinson said some people in the area were afraid to leave their houses
- Published
Residents living on a street in Nottingham city centre say a "spike" in anti-social behaviour has left them feeling unsafe.
People with homes in Cliff Road, close to the skate park in Sussex Street, said they had been affected by disturbances and noise in recent months.
On Saturday, five teenagers were arrested at the skate park on suspicion of carrying a machete and Class A drugs, while in December a 24-year-old man was murdered by two teenagers, who threw a brick at his head at the skate park.
Nottinghamshire Police said it had increased patrols in the area to deter any criminal behaviour.
The skate park has attracted numerous violent incidents over the past year
The force said officers had been stepping up their presence since January after businesses in the area expressed safety concerns.
Residents say they believe the area has become more dangerous in recent months.
Ade Adelabu, 38, said he felt it was too unsafe to let his daughter play outside.
"I would not allow my kid to go out there if I’m not with her - I'm concerned for her safety," he said.
"My partner says people are always banging and knocking the door in the middle of the night.
"The police should patrol this area more – where are the cameras to monitor what's going on?
"You don't want to wait until people get accosted to do what's right."
'Terrified in our home'
Gordon Wilkinson, 62, said the area was once a quiet place to live, but that had changed.
He described Saturday's incident as frightening.
"We came outside, saw blue lights flashing by the college, there were three police vans all out looking for somebody," he said.
"There were two big police dogs and they found a massive machete.
"There's kids everywhere, and they're afraid to go outside after what's happened.
"I don't go out at night any more, not like I used to. Anything can happen."
Some residents say they no longer feel safe leaving their homes at night
Another Cliff Road resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he heard people running through his garden and hiding on his shed on Saturday night.
"Me and my partner feel terrified in our own home," he said.
"Somebody was killed in the skate park earlier this year and now people are being found with drugs and knives.
"It's on our doorstep and something needs to change."
Rachel Wadsworth, vice principal of Nottingham College's City Hub Campus, which is located next to the skatepark, said: "We take the safety of our students and staff very seriously, and work with local organisations and the police to stay abreast of developing incidents across the city."
Nottinghamshire Police said tackling anti-social behaviour was a "priority" and it was working with "concerned parties in the Sussex Street area to [reduce crime] and improve its appeal".
Correction: This article originally reported that people living in Cliff Road had been subject to violence. However, as none of the people we spoke to had directly experienced violence, and this was intended to reflect their concern at violence in the wider area, we have removed this description from the sentence.
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