Senior Sheffield police officer speaks out after 14 year old boy stabbed
The teenager is now in a stable condition in hospital after being attacked in Woodhouse.
A senior police officer in Sheffield has issued a personal plea to parents and young people - after a 14 year old boy was stabbed last night.
The teenager is now stable in hospital after the attack in Market Square in Woodhouse.
Chief Supt Jamie Henderson has called it 'senseless, devastating and totally unacceptable' and says he's worried about a 'growing disregard for human life'.
In his full message, Henderson said: “Last night, a young boy was stabbed in Woodhouse and is now lying in a hospital bed. His family were put through every parent’s worst nightmare as they did not know if their son would come home. That is the brutal reality of knife crime in South Yorkshire.
“Let me say this as plainly as I can: this is senseless, it is devastating, and it is utterly unacceptable. A child's life was brought to the brink over a moment of violence that should never have happened. Behind every incident like this is a trail of trauma with families shattered, communities shaken and futures potentially destroyed.
“I am deeply concerned by what feels like a growing disregard for human life. Carrying a knife is not normal. It is not inevitable. And we must not allow it to become something we simply accept.
“To those who think carrying a knife will keep them safe — it will not. It puts you in more danger, not less. In seconds, a situation can spiral, and you could take a life, or lose your own. No argument, no moment of fear or anger, is worth that.
“To parents and carers, I am asking you, please, lean in. Ask the difficult questions. Know where your children are, who they are with, and what is happening in their lives. I understand how hard that can be, but silence and distance create space for risk. Your involvement could genuinely be the difference between safety and tragedy.
“And to our communities, we cannot look the other way. If you suspect someone is carrying a knife, if you are worried about a young person, say something. Step forward. You may feel like it’s not your place, but it is. It could save a life.
“We will do everything in our power to find those responsible for Wednesday’s attack and bring them to justice. You will see more officers on the streets today, and we will act decisively.
“But policing alone cannot undo this. This is about values; about the kind of society we want to be. We cannot accept South Yorkshire being a place where young people feel they need weapons, or where violence like this becomes routine.
“It is just over a year since we tragically lost 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose in a knife attack. Another boy is in hospital today and his family is in pieces. We cannot let this happen again.”
Officers remain in Market Square today as investigations continue.