Shocked residents are appalled after a boy’s face was slashed by a community centre in their “lovely area”.
The 15-year-old was rushed to hospital yesterday evening for knife injuries to his face and hands. The attack occurred outside the Mandela Community Centre on Chapeltown Road.
West Yorkshire Police launched a 24-hour crackdown with increased stop and search powers around the area. The crackdown extends from Harehills Lane to the north and Woodhouse Lane in Burmantofts to the south.
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Chapeltown residents had mixed feelings about the stop and search powers, with one doubting the area needed it as they generally feel “quite safe” there.
Retired care worker James Connell, 66, said: “It’s horrible. I’ve heard about this kind of thing happening in other places in Leeds as well. I’ve been living here for five years, it’s a lovely area and I like living here, so I was a wee bit surprised. So I’m sad for the poor lad who’s been injured.
On the police's crackdown, James said: “This is not something that happens every day here. I know it has a bad reputation or it did 20 years ago but I walk about here and I feel quite safe. I don’t feel threatened at all, my neighbours are all nice, it’s multicultural and people all talk to you.”
Spanish language lecturer Juan Munoz, 50, who walks through Chapeltown on his way to work, said: “It’s dangerous and it makes me feel unsafe. Now that winter is approaching, it’s going to be darker and then it will be riskier.
Speaking about the police stop and search crackdown, Juan said: “The suspicion thing is very touchy in my opinion. Ethnic minorities are exposed more often to stop and search. Since I come from Spain, I don’t want to be searched because I have an accent or be seen as suspicious. I don’t agree with it.”
Electrician Thomas Sacca, 32, said: “It’s unbelievable, it shouldn’t happen. There should be a bit more control in general, this is not the first time this kind of thing has happened. There should be more control around schools and playgrounds because now it’s so easy for kids to get knives or something dangerous.
“In Leeds in general, there are so many areas which should be more controlled. I’m living in Beeston and it’s more or less the same. There’s gangs and kids going around with them. Quad bikes and all this stuff in many many areas around Leeds. It’s growing without control.
“It makes me angry. I’ve got a little one and it makes me think, how is she going to survive everyday with it being so dangerous.”
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