Concerned resident explains why police face an ‘impossible job’ in Sheffield after latest stabbing

The man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an attack in Lowedges Crescent, Lowedges, at around 2pm.

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A cordon is in place and under police guard as crime scene enquiries are carried out.

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Officers investigating the incident also want to hear from witnesses in a bid to piece together exactly what happened.

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Meanwhile, a man who had lived on the neighbouring Batemoor estate for 30 years, said Lowedges is ‘getting worse’ and action is needed.

He praised South Yorkshire Police for its efforts to keep crime under control but said the force has ‘an impossible job’.

The 34-year-old blamed years of austerity and cuts for gangs being allowed to form and expand, and for drug, gun and knife crime to all rise.

Speaking after today’s latest stabbing – close to where 15-year-old Sam Baker was stabbed to death in May 2018 when he clashed with another teenage boy – he said: “The police do a great job with what they have but an impossible job.

“Ten years of austerity has not helped with cuts, cuts and more cuts; they can only do so much. They do not have the manpower they once had, it’s as simple as that.

“People do take advantage and they have, so that is why we are seeing an increase in knife crime, gun crime, drugs and gangs.

“The community has always done its bit but ultimately it has to be down to the ones paid to sort it out to step up, and to do that there needs to be the finance and resources.”

He added: "We are no different to anywhere else in Sheffield, it has all gone downhill and most of the country could be put in that category.

“If today shows anything, it shows that it is time to act."

South Yorkshire Police is currently recruiting hundreds of new officers to boost numbers.

Witnesses to today’s incident should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote incident number 411 of April 15.