Shoppers and residents have aired their concerns and say they feel unsafe in Nottingham city centre after a major police cordon was set up. The cordon was in place in Broad Street, at its junction with High Cross Street and Old Lenton Street to just past Broadway Cinema, early on Friday (June 24) morning.
Police were called to reports of a flight in the street at around 11.45pm on Thursday (June 23). The incident was said to have involved a number of people and a man in his 50s was taken to hospital after reportedly being punched to the ground.
His injuries aren't believed to be life-threatening or altering and a 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and affray. It comes after other, separate incidents of assaults, and the City Centre and Trent Bridge neighbourhood has been found to have the most cases of anti-social behaviour in Nottinghamshire for 2021/22, with 1,438 incidents, the 22nd highest of nearly 7,000 neighbourhoods in England and Wales. These incidents and the latest cordon have left some in Nottingham feeling unsafe.
READ MORE: Live police updates as officers cordon off busy Nottingham city centre street
Rebecca Farrow, 45, from Mapperley, said: "I don't come in to the city much now, I've just come in to get my hair cut. I feel safe walking around in the day, but not at night, not from say 9pm onwards.
"A different kind of people tend to come out then, it's a bit busier and a bit more rowdy. My son is 11 at the moment, but when he gets to 18 I wouldn't be keen on him going out in the city."
Joy Lakin, 28, who works for a charity and is from Derby, said: "I do feel safe walking alone, but not in the dark. I wouldn't feel comfortable but that would be the same in most places, especially after the Sarah Everard case."
John Moses, 31, who works in IT and lives in Grange Road, Old Basford, said: "I come through here a lot to socialise, and it usually feels OK, but incidents do often occur here though. Considering incidents keep happening, I'm really hoping it's an anomaly."
Others have said they do feel safe in the city centre. To reassure others, they would like to see additional security measures added.
Luneth Neto, 20, of Carlton Road, said: "I feel safe every time walking around here. But maybe cameras would help make others feel more safe."
Vicki Morris, 57, who works for University of Nottingham and walks through the city regularly, added: "I do feel safe in Nottingham city. I haven't noticed more incidents or anything like that.
"There has been a demise in civilisation generally in society after Covid and there's been an increase in people swearing. People are just less polite nowadays, and with good reason - there are a lot of stresses, people don't want to hold it in as much."
Peter Heard, 53, from Retford and who works in the city, said: "I haven't seen anything, I travel in on the tram and I'm not really around the city in the evening. I haven't seen anything decline, and I do feel safe."
On the latest incident, a Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: “Police were called to a disturbance in Broad Street, Nottingham, at around 11.45pm yesterday (Thursday) evening. Officers are investigating a fight in the street involving a number of people and would like to speak to any additional witnesses.
“One man, aged in his 50s, remains in hospital after being punched to the ground. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or altering. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and affray and remains in police custody.”
Anyone with additional information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 971 of June 23.
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