‘MURDER’ BY THE PLAY PARK
MAN DIES AFTER BEING STABBED
POLICE have launched a murder investigation after a man died following a fatal stabbing in a west Hull street near a children’s play park.
The man was found with stab wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment, where he later died.
Humberside Police were called to Peel Street at about 8pm on Wednesday after reports that a man was seriously injured.
A number of people have been arrested in relation to the attack and remain in police custody.
A police forensic tent had been placed just a few yards from the entrance to a park, which includes a children’s play area, where it is believed the victim had been fatally injured.
Police had also sealed off the park as part of their investigation.
A postmortem examination will take place in the coming days and the man’s family have been informed.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Clark said: “We are in the very early stages of the investigation, however, following leads and analysis already carried out, we do believe this was an isolated incident with no wider threat or risk to the general public.
“There was a large group of individuals in the area, which tragically resulted in one man suffering fatal stab wounds.
“The circumstances of the incident and the events leading up to it will be fully established as part of the investigation, with a dedicated team of detectives and officers working through CCTV footage, house-to-house enquiries and taking witness statements to obtain a clear and full picture.”
Residents say they are now scared to leave their homes at night and many want to move from the area.
Terry Stephenson said: “It was so scary. I have got little ones at home and this just happened so close to the house.
“It’s really scary and I’m very worried.”
Tony Launn, who shares two children aged 16 and five with his partner, is from London.
He says crime along Peel Street and the Spring Bank area as a whole is “as bad as crime” in the capital.
“It’s just awful - it’s horrible,” Tony said
“No one wants to live here. We’ve been trying to find an exchange, but no one wants to move to this area.”
A bystander who witnessed the immediate aftermath said he is becoming scared of “similar incidents” in the area.
The man, who did not want to be named, said he was walking home on Wednesday evening when he stumbled across a crowd of people surrounding a man on the ground in Peel Street, close to the junction with Cranbourne Street.
“I was just on my way home,” he said.
“I saw people gathered round. I could see someone on the floor, but couldn’t actually see much of the victim due to the crowds and then police who were gathered around.
“I passed just after 8pm, everyone was already gathering round. Police turned up about five minutes later, followed by two ambulances.
“I didn’t see exactly what happened, but someone told me someone had been stabbed.
“It is scary as a lot of similar incidents have happened around here recently.”
But DCI Clark has moved to assure residents the incident is isolated and says a police presence will remain in the area.
He said: “There remains a police scene in place while inquiries are carried out, with additional police patrols that will be present in the area throughout the day and over the weekend to provide a visible presence and reassurance to the local community.
“I would ask anyone who was in the area at the time, who witnessed the incident or who has any information to please come forward, as your assistance could be vital to the investigation and holding who is responsible to account.”
North Bank Commander, Chief Superintendent Darren Downs, echoed DCI Clark’s message.
He said: “Understandably, our communities will be shocked and concerned following the death of a man in the Peel Street area of Hull and the murder investigation.
“While we do believe this was an isolated incident with no wider threat or risk to the general public, it will no doubt still cause worry and anxiety to everyone, and I want to offer my reassurance of the actions we have been taking and the measures we are putting in place to prevent any further disorder, violence or crime in the area.
“The Spring Bank area, of which Peel Street is a part of, is a vibrant and diverse part of the city, with a real sense of community at its heart and we are proud to be a part of that and we will do everything we can to make sure all our communities continue to be supported.
“Additional police patrols have been present in the area throughout the day and will remain over the weekend and into next week to provide a highly visible presence and reassurance to the community, and I would encourage people to please talk to us if you have any concerns”.
If you can help the investigation, call Humberside Police on 101, or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55511, quoting log number 500 of October 7.