A schoolboy stabbed in Lewisham… but who would know?

A teenage schoolboy was stabbed in Lewisham yesterday afternoon. Back in the day, this would have made front page news in the local paper – particularly as police were involved in further altercations as they attempted to cordon off the area.

Not so in this era of hollowed-out local press coverage. Until now the only public information we had to go on was one Lewisham Police tweet as below.

Officers dealing with a stabbing victim were attacked by school children this evening in Clarendon rise whilst trying to maintain a cordon

— Lewisham MPS (@MPSLewisham) July 20, 2017

I only knew marginally more as it was yards from where I live, my usual route home cordoned off with blue and white tape.

A stabbing I was told by police at the scene as forensic evidence was gathered at the top of Limes Grove. Not fatal they said, with one adding that it was “schoolchildren getting overexcited” as the end of term approached.

It happened after schools finished for the day. One local woman reportedly tended to the victim, still feeling a pulse when the medics arrived.

A helicopter landed at the scene, swooping over nearby rooftops before landing in Clarendon Rise, with one eyewitness identifying it as an air ambulance.

With no sign of any local news coverage more than a day on, I asked the Met for more information and they gave the following statement:

“Police were called at 15:57hrs on Thursday, 20 July by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) to reports of a male stabbed in Clarendon Rise, SE13.

Officers and LAS attended and found a large crowd gathered and a boy – aged 14 – suffering a stab wound. The boy was taken to hospital, his injuries are described as not life-threatening. His next of kin were informed.

While officers initially attended to the victim, fights broke out involving some of those gathered; officers were also targeted. No reports of any injuries.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, can contact police in Lewisham via 101, or via Twitter @MetCC.

To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.”

Update, July 22:

Two arrests made, apparently, but not for the stabbing. Still no other obvious news reports.

Two female juveniles have been charged with assaulting police and obstruction following the incident at Clarendon rise on Thursday

— Lewisham MPS (@MPSLewisham) July 22, 2017

‘Ludicrous’ and ’embarrassing’ planning expertise: a Lewisham councillor’s view

‘Build at greater density and greater pace’, says Lewisham mayor Steve Bullock

The London School of Economics held an event earlier this week exploring the shape of the city’s development.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan attended the “Good Growth by Design” evening as a speaker, before a panel discussion and question and answer session.

Topics ranged widely, from issues such as diversity within architecture firms (limited), to London’s rising skyline, the stretched resources of council planning departments and the crucial topic of affordable housing.

There was also an interesting insight into the planning process in Lewisham and the expertise of council members.

Suzannah Clarke, a Labour councillor for Grove Park since 2010, revealed she had only had “about two hours” training before joining a planning committee.