Along with local constituents, Mark was deeply shocked to learn of the stabbing of a teenage boy that took place last night on Lupus Street, Pimlico. Police were called to the scene at 18.50 however the sixteen year-old boy, a local resident and Pimlico Academy student, sadly died at 20.45 in a south London hospital.
Anticipating that residents will be unnerved by this news, Mark spoke this morning to Cllr Nickie Aiken, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Protection, and later to Westminster Borough Commander, Alison Newcomb.
Commander Newcomb advised the following:
A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a teenager in Pimlico yesterday evening.
A post-mortem examination will be held in due course and police are retaining an open mind regarding the circumstances of the incident and any motive at this early stage.
An incident room has been opened under Detective Chief Inspector Neil Attewell of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC). No arrests have been made at present but any witnesses, or anyone with any information, should contact the incident room on 020 8345 3715; if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A Section 60 authority – which affords officers additional stop and search powers within a specified location to search for weapons – was implemented in the Pimlico area, which was then extended to cover all of SW1. This will be reviewed upon its expiry at 1900hrs today, with a view to extending it. We are deploying additional uniformed officers to the area to provide reassurance to the local community.
We will of course keep you updated when we have further information.
‘These are naturally very worrying developments, particularly given that Churchill Gardens has always been considered a safe and successful estate in Westminster. My heart goes out to this young man’s family and friends who will be suffering unimaginable sorrow.’ Mark said.
‘I shall shortly be hosting a meeting in parliament with some local Churchill Gardens residents along with Cllr Nickie Aiken and Deputy Mayor and local London Assembly Member, Kit Malthouse, to discuss safety in the area. I have now invited local police to that meeting as well and in the meantime have asked Commander Newcomb to keep residents informed of how police are stepping up security in the area. I would encourage anyone with any piece of information on this tragic crime to get in touch with DCI Attewell’s team. The sooner the perpetrators are brought to justice, the stronger the message that this kind of violence, brutality and fear-mongering will not be tolerated. Young people in the borough should not have to walk around in fear’.
