Kids in an area of South Yorkshire 'petrified' to go & play in their local park

It's because of a rising number of reports around teenagers carrying knives

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 7th Jun 2023

Parents in a part of South Yorkshire tell us they're 'terrified' to let their children play in their local park - due to a rising number of reports about teenagers carrying knives.

People living in the Adwick & Woodlands area of Doncaster tell us the problem's got worse there recently.

Stacey Murray - who lives close to Adwick Park - says she's stopped her 11-year-old daughter from playing there because of this:

"I think the police need to be out in the community more.

"The majority of children around here don't even know who their local police officer is.

"I never thought that I'd have to tell my child that she couldn't go to the park by herself, just because some other child has pulled a knife out there."

Stacey's 11-year-old daughter Savannah has been speaking to us about it:

"I barely play out anymore because of everyone going around with knives.

"So, I always go with my mum everywhere.

"I don't play out on Adwick park anymore because that's where teenagers walk around with knives."

Kelly Walker is another parent in the area:

"The kids as young as ten or eleven are petrified to go and play on the park because there's people down there who carry weapons.

"We should be able to let our kids play there safely without any threats to their safety.

"We're just not seeing enough of a police presence in this area.

"We want to see the police coming here and building a relationship with the local children.

"Also, we want to see more knife drop bins in the area, so if young people here end up in possession of a weapon, they can safely dispose of it."

South Yorkshire Police say they have knife amnesty bins in the Balby area of Doncaster & the city centre.

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