VIDEO: Forest Fields resident Vishal Yasin expresses concerns
Residents in Forest Fields where a recent stabbing took place have said that people in their community no longer feel safe.
Residents living near where 20 year old Aqib Mazhar was stabbed and later died last month are concerned about their safety.
This stabbing is one of six to have taken place throughout Nottinghamshire since June 1 but is the only one to have resulted in a fatality; the six attacks are not believed to be linked.
Interactive Map: Where six stabbings have happened across Notts in the past month
Forest Fields resident Vishal Yasin said: “After it happened, it feels like the situation is getting worse and worse; people are getting arrested left, right and centre.
“It’s a down point for the whole community and everyone is getting careful; not many people are going out at night.”
A lot more people feel vulnerable
Another Forest Fields resident Mazher Hussain shares the same concerns.
He said: “I personally feel that there is a strong sense of community but there is a lot more tension.
“A lot more people feel vulnerable and there’s a lot of apprehension and fear that this could continue.”
VIDEO: Paddy Tipping believes it is safe to go out in Nottingham city centre
Nottinghamshire’s police and crime commissioner Paddy Tipping believes that people should not be worried as the police “are in control of the situation.”
He said: “Although there have been some tragic, really serious incidents, with one case resulting in a fatality, people have been arrested.
“I can assure you that the police are taking these incidents very seriously and it is safe to go out in the city centre.
“We need to recognise that violence in the centre of Nottingham has gone down and continues to go down.”
There is a special unit tackling knife crime
Mr Tipping also said that measures are in place to fully tackle the issue.
He said: “For some months now, there has been a special unit operating in knife crime.
“There’s a group of officers who are doing work around putting the message out and, more particularly, closely examining the offences where knives have been used.
“In the not so distant future, there will be an amnesty chance for people to cash their knives in.”
