TWO stabbings in Swindon over the Easter weekend have sparked fears of a rise in knife crime.

Residents and Adver readers branding the situation “scary”, after police were called to two stabbings over Easter weekend alone. 

However, police chiefs and councillors have sought to reassure people that the town remains a safe place to live and work.

Police were called to two knife attacks. One victim, a 17-year-old boy remains at Great Western Hospital after being set upon near Eldene Primary School on Thursday afternoon. 

On Easter Monday, detectives again appealed for information, saying that a man in his 30s was slashed across the back near the Oasis Leisure Centre. He has been released from hospital.

Police are yet to make arrests in connection with either incident. 
Swindon residents have reacted with shock to the violence. 

Janice Low, 57, an Eldene resident of more than three decades, narrowly missed witnessing Thursday’s knife attack after picking up her grandson from school earlier that afternoon. She said: “It’s quite scary. I’d just come back from collecting my grandson from school, but I didn’t see anything.”

Neighbour Peter Blake, 69, said: “It’s very scary. You never know what’s going to happen. It’s quite frightening.”

Another woman, 19, who lives opposite the school and did not want to be named, said: “It’s a shock. It’s very quiet here – very chilled.”

On Facebook, Elaine Taylor wrote: “This is scary. Why are all these stabbings happening?”

Deborah Clark added: “Knife crime in Swindon is getting worse. Scum low life need to be put away for a long time.”

Official figures suggest that the number of people arrested by Wiltshire Police for possession of a weapon dropped slightly by three per cent last year. However, violence against the person offences jumped by seven per cent, according to government figures.

In the past six months, there have been at least half a dozen instances of knifings across the town. They include:

  • October 9, 2017 – Police called to a stabbing at the Esso Garage in Fleming Way arrest a 20-year-old man
  • October 19, 207 – A man in his 60s is arrested after a woman was apparently stabbed on Whitbourne Avenue, Park South
  • November 1, 2017 – A fight at the bus station leaves one man, 40, in hospital with knife wounds
  • December 16, 2017 – A 24-year-old dad goes on a drunken rampage with a kitchen knife, attacking his partner
  • December 24, 2017 – Detectives arrest a 23-year-old after a Christmas Eve stabbing on Melksham Close, Penhill
  • December 27, 2017 – Police appeal after a teen is slashed in the face by robbers
  • January 3, 2018 – Two are arrested by police following a knifepoint robbery on Manchester Road, Broadgreen 
  • March 4, 2018 – Two men are taken to hospital and two arrested after a stabbing in Ponting Street, Broadgreen

At least some of the violence over the past year in Swindon has been linked to drugs. 

Earlier this year, London drug dealer Mahad Hassan, 23, was jailed for seven years at Swindon Crown Court after he stabbed a drug addict and his girlfriend in September. 

The Somali “enforcer” Hassan – understood to have travelled to Swindon from the capital – pulled a knife on the pair during a row over a £30 drug debt. Victim Nina Austin, 39, told the court: “He literally stopped and stabbed me as he passed me. What upset me is I posed no threat.”

However, police and councillors last night sought to reassure Swindon residents that the town is safe. 

Appealing for information about the Oasis Centre attack, Detective Inspector Paul Hacker said: “We believe these are not to random attacks by complete strangers, and believe that both victims may have known their attackers or at least know of them. 

“I understand that local people will be feeling concerned, however please be assured that Wiltshire Police takes these types of crime incredibly seriously and we are carrying out detailed enquiries to try to catch the person or people responsible for both these incidents.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said: “In the past year, violence in Swindon involving knives has actually decreased. I have asked for more preventative measures and I know that the force does a lot of work on knife crime, including visiting schools to educate children on the consequences of carrying a knife.

“It is very important that anyone tempted to carry a knife realises that they are putting themselves and others at a much greater risk of injury or death. The chances of a custodial sentence if convicted of using a knife are also very high, and rightly so.” 

Council leader David Renard added: “While these events are serious, they are not typical. Swindon remains a safe place in which to live, work, shop and do all the other normal activities you would want to do.”