News / KNowle West
Public meeting to be held after spate of stabbings in community
A community activist has organised a public meeting in south Bristol in response to a spate of stabbings.
Carol Casey says she has called the meeting because residents have been saying how worried they are around knife crime, stolen motorbikes and drugs in Knowle West.
The meeting comes after two stabbings happened in consecutive days in Knowle West. A teenager was stabbed on July 31 while a woman was stabbed on August 1. Both were hospitalised with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
is needed now More than ever
Carol hopes the meeting at Eagle House Social Club in Newquay Road on Tuesday evening will help end knife crime and anti-social behaviour on the council estate.
Carol Casey has organised a public meeting following a spate of stabbings in Knowle West – photo: Charlie Watts
“I feel we need a public meeting with agencies there to answer some of the questions,” said Carol, who was born and raised in Knowle West and is now an independent advisor for Avon & Somerset Police.
“It’s not to scaremonger, it’s about trying to find ways that we can challenge it and work together as a team.”
Carol, who facilitates resident group meetings across Knowle West, says she has invited police, local councillors, the council’s anti-social behaviour team, housing officers and youth organisations to the meeting.
She added: “I think residents are sick to death of it all. The police are running ragged. People are living in fear.
“People are noticing it within their community and the meeting is a way of trying to get through to parents and grandparents that these kids are going out with knives.
“We all got to work together and we can’t do it without the parents, grandparents and family members unless they stop their kids bringing them out.”
The meeting will be held at Eagle House Social Club on Tuesday evening – photo: Charlie Watts
Carol says she is also hoping to bring a knife bin to the meeting, so people can dispose of knives in a safe manner.
She continued: “It’s really frightening. I feel for the older people on the estate that are afraid to go to the shops now.
“People need to realise this is happening on our streets. It’s like the kids now are running the estate and it can’t be.”
The public meeting is open to everyone and is set to be held from 6.30 to 8pm on Tuesday, August 15 at Eagle House Social Club on Newquay Road in Knowle West.
Main photo: Charlie Watts
Read next:
- Man arrested after armed police descend on street
- Knife-wielding robbers on motorbike chase e-bike riders through streets
- Vigil held to remember St Paul’s stabbing victim
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