Police patrols stepped up in Chester after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed yesterday in Handbridge

Police say patrols in Chester have been stepped up after a 14-year-old boy was seriously assaulted in the Handbridge area of the city yesterday. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Officers were called to reports of an assault near Old Dee Bridge just after 3pm on Thursday. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

On arrival they found that a 14-year-old boy had been stabbed; he was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The boy has since been transferred to the Alder Hey Hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A 15-year-old was arrested nearby on suspicion of section 18 assault and is currently in police custody. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Chief Inspector Carlos Brunes said: “Incidents of this nature are extremely rare in the Chester area and, understandably, this incident is likely to cause concern in the local community. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We have increased patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the local community. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“In addition, we also have a specialist team of officers in place at Queens Park School to provide support to those who have been affected by this incident. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I would urge anyone with any concerns to speak to an officer.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Detective Inspector Paul Laughlin added: “Enquiries in relation to this incident are ongoing and we are working hard to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“As part of the investigation we are urging anyone who was in the area and witnessed the incident, or anything else that may aid our investigation, to get in touch. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We would also like to hear from anyone with any CCTV or dashcam footage that may be relevant to our investigation.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Anyone with information or CCTV footage that may help the ongoing investigation should call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 433282. Alternatively you can submit information online via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To submit dashcam footage visit www.cheshire.police.uk/advice-and-support/roads-and-vehicle-safety/submit-dashcam-footage  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

[Feature image: Photo taken by Kevin Brackenbury following the incident on Thursday] ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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