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TEENAGER IS STABBED IN THE THROAT
Gangs, drugs and knife fights, plague police no-go zone
POLICE have come under fire after a teenager had his throat slashed in Soho on Sunday.
The brutal attack left the 16-year-old critically wounded and he was discharged yesterday (Thursday).
Forensic teams combed New Compton Street – where groups of teenagers are banned by law – but no arrests have been made.
An eyewitness, who wanted to remain anonymous, said teenage gangs were plaguing the Pendrell House estate at night.
She said: “There are sometimes as many as 25 junkies loitering around waiting for dealers. I have lived here for 12 years and the situation has got really, really bad.”
She added: “They were supposed to be stationing a police office inside flats in Charing Cross Road, but we heard that had been turned down. We really need more police.”
The gangs are forming inside the North Westminster dispersal zone – supposedly banning groups from forming under the anti-social behaviour legislation.
On Wednesday evening teenagers were offering hard drugs for sale in New Compton Street and verbally abusing passers by.
Westminster Borough Commander Steve Allen said extra resources would be deployed to Soho in a high-profile crackdown on street crime. He said: “There is going to be a strong increase in police presence over the next seven weeks. We are deploying 50 extra officers to patrol the West End and they will be on the look out for all types of crime.” |
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