Don Valley MP: It's 'dreadful' some kids feel too scared to play in their local park

We've been speaking to Nick Fletcher about whether enough is being done to help children feel safe in their local community

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 15th Jun 2023

A South Yorkshire MP says it's 'dreadful' that young people in parts of Doncaster 'don't feel safe' going to their local park.

It's after we heard kids are too scared go to Adwick park alone due to the fear of teenagers carrying knives there.

Last week we heard from 11-year-old Savannah who lives in the Woodlands area of Doncaster.

She told us her local park in Adwick isn't a safe place to play in - because teenagers carry weapons there - so Savannah only ever visits with her mum by her side.

Since then, we've been quizzing the Conservative MP for Don Valley - Nick Fletcher - on whether politicians like him are doing enough to tackle these types of issues:

"If any member of the public feels as though they can't go into a park, I'd suggest that they contact their member of parliament.

"This young girl's family could always contact me and I'll then be able to work with the police to make sure we get the force based where we need them.

"One thing we need to do is encourage young people to go out, but they've got to feel safe enough to do that.

"It's terrible that an 11-year-old feels scared to go into her local park.

"That's not what should be happening - we need to be working with as many young people as we can.

"I've been trying to get more young people into youth clubs."

South Yorkshire Police have previously said they've got knife amnesty bins in the Balby area of Doncaster & the city centre.

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