Calls for urgent prevention after two serious incidents in the Ortons
A Peterborough councillor has demanded stronger knife‑crime education and targeted prevention activity in local schools after the Ortons community was hit by a second knife‑related incident within months.
Orton Waterville ward councillor Kirsty Knight described the latest attack — when a 14‑year‑old boy was injured on playing fields next to Ortongate Shopping Centre on Monday 14 September — as another blow to a community still recovering from the fatal stabbing of 16‑year‑old Baye Bireme Fall in April.
Local police arrested a boy on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assisting an offender after the September incident; he has been released on bail until 14 December. In the April case, Emidas Krutkevicius, 18, of Garton End Road, and a 15‑year‑old who cannot be named for legal reasons, have pleaded not guilty to murder and are awaiting trial.
“No child should ever feel that carrying a knife makes them safer. As a mum, that absolutely terrifies me,”
Cllr Knight said she was preparing a motion to bring before Peterborough City Council calling for enhanced education and workshops aimed at secondary school pupils.
Local prevention proposals and next steps
The motion being prepared by Cllr Knight focuses on early prevention and education rather than enforcement alone. She told residents she wanted the council to provide age‑appropriate workshops in secondary schools to address the dangers of carrying knives and to start prevention work before a young person first comes into contact with a weapon.
She added that, as ward councillor and a mother of three, she was “deeply concerned” by the recurrence of incidents involving young people in the Ortons and that the community had been left “terrified” by the recent events.
- Introduce age‑appropriate knife‑crime workshops in secondary schools in affected wards.
- Work with police and youth services on prevention and diversion activities.
- Engage parents and community groups in awareness campaigns and support for affected families.
Context and consequences for Peterborough
Knife crime has both immediate physical consequences for victims and long‑term effects on community confidence. Two serious incidents close to the same shopping centre within months have heightened local concern and prompted calls for action focused on prevention, education and community support.
Any motion brought to full council would require officers to assess resources, partnership arrangements and timetables. Effective delivery would also rely on collaboration with Cambridgeshire police, schools, youth services and voluntary groups, and may require additional funding or reallocation of existing budgets to provide workshops, outreach and victim support.
While enforcement and policing remain central to reducing violent crime, those working in local government and youth services often point to education and early intervention as ways to change attitudes and reduce the likelihood of young people carrying knives. Cllr Knight’s motion, if adopted, would formalise that approach in Peterborough and aim to place prevention at the heart of the city’s response.
Timeline of recent incidents
| Date | Victim / Case | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 April | 16‑year‑old Baye Bireme Fall | Riseholme, opposite Ortongate Shopping Centre | Fatal; two defendants pleaded not guilty, trial pending |
| 14 September | 14‑year‑old boy | Playing fields next to Ortongate Shopping Centre | Injured; one boy arrested and bailed until 14 December |
The incidents underline how particular local sites can acquire heightened significance for residents when violent offences recur. For families, schools and shopkeepers in the Ortons, the question now is whether the city council and its partners can implement visible prevention measures quickly enough to restore confidence and reduce risk.
The proposed council motion and the details of any subsequent programme will be closely watched by residents in the Ortons and across Peterborough, where community leaders are calling for a balanced approach that combines policing, education and targeted youth work.
