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Commuters see boy, 14, stabbed in gang fight at rail station
Danny Brierley10.09.08
A schoolboy was stabbed in front of dozens of horrified commuters during a daylight street battle between warring children.
The 14-year-old was seen staggering and bleeding in a road outside East Croydon railway station - one of the busiest transport hubs in south London.
He was attacked during an altercation between two groups of youths in an area that locals say is plagued by violence. His friends used their jackets to stem the flow of blood until paramedics arrived.
He was taken to the Mayday Hospital with what police described as "a small puncture wound" to his right shoulder and later sent home after treatment.
Eyewitnesses said two groups squared up to each other near a taxi rank outside the station at about 4pm yesterday. A driver, who did not want to be named, said: "There were loads of kids having a right go at each other. It happens all the time down here - the police can't control them."
An office worker said: "There was a lot of blood and it looked really serious. The boy's friends used their jackets to stem the flow while he was lying there."
In July a man was left with head injuries after a fight erupted outside East Croydon station in the early hours of a Saturday morning.
In the same month, officers from the British Transport Police used a walkthrough metal detector at the station as part of an operation to curb youth violence.
The latest stabbing in Croydon came shortly after a senior police officer admitted knife crime in the borough was on the rise.
Detective Superintendent David Palmer said Croydon had seen 69 more knife-related offences this year compared to the same period last year.
The figures were revealed at a council meeting on knife crime last week.
This came 24 hours after an 18-yearold was knifed during a similar street battle in east London. The teenager was left fighting for his life after the incident in Bow Common Lane, Mile End, but police last night said his condition was improving.
Reader views (7)
I say gave back parents the right without brutality to disaplain their children, the moments a child is threatened with any kind of punishment by their parents they know the system and would welcome being put in Care with the finance, the freedom and a social worker to deal them, some parents are so so afraid to even say anything to or with their children for fear of the law intervening, my nephew completed his exams, started to take driving lessons was voluntary helping out in a youth club, his father was extremely proud of him, he taught him a trade that his grandfather also taught him, then one day someone I presumed without a BRAIN/education came and ended my brother's dream by stabbing his son to death, all because he was making something of his life. I say let there be compulory signing up for army and curfew from the age of 6 yrs and up..
- Not Important, london
i was a witness to this crime and there was 2 police officers present to the crime aswell who watched it all from across the road without intervining. what are police here for then ?
- Anon, Croydon
More benefits of immigration and multiculturalism.
- Rob, London
Ah! The joys of enrichment and diversity! How we all love them.
This was a diverse incident, one presumes?
I wonder if the PC Crowd was watching from the safety of its leafy suburbs and gated communities? And rubbing their claws and chortling at a job well done?
If any 14-year-old has to get stabbed in Disasterland, I do hope it's the son or daughter of one of these.
- Jack, London England
I live in this place. Im really worried now. I wish people would stop messing about and take action... *cough cough .. police cough cough*
- James, Croydon
So what? Adults can't intervene without being set upon or being arrested, there is barely a police presence day to day so that's that. Tough being a child in modern Britain. Not my fault.
- Squiz, Islington
Croydon, a truely lovely multicultural society that enriches London with gangs, violent crime, and alcohol fuelled rage. My father lives on the outskirts and this place is scary.
- Brandon Thomas, London SW7
