A man was taken to hospital this week after a stabbing at Town Hall Square, with arrests made for serious violent offences and drug‑related activity. Armed police were deployed, and the incident occurred in the same cluster of streets that residents, workers and businesses have repeatedly raised concerns about. https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/man-hospital-after-leicester-city-10990558

This latest event highlights once again that the issues affecting Leicester city centre go far beyond anti‑social behaviour. They involve violent crime, organised drug activity, and a lack of visible policing. 

Despite this, the petition has continued to grow and now stands at 729 signatures, with new supporters joining every day through organic momentum alone. This shows how many people across Leicester share the same concerns about safety in the city centre.

Leicestershire Police also recently released their new Anti‑Social Behaviour (ASB) Action Plan (2026–2029). While it is positive to see ASB being prioritised nationally through the Government’s Safer Streets framework, the plan focuses specifically on ASB and early intervention.

Crucially, the plan officially identifies the Leicester city centre as a hotspot, listing Granby Street, Market Street, Clocktower, Conduit Street, High Street and surrounding streets as priority locations. This confirms what many people have been experiencing for a long time.

However, the ASB plan does not address the more serious issues that continue to affect the area — including violent incidents, drug‑related groups, and the lack of consistent police presence. These fall outside the ASB category and remain a significant gap in the current approach.

This is why the petition continues to grow. People want to see a clear, coordinated plan to make the city centre safer — not only for ASB, but for the more serious incidents that impact everyday life.

Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared. Your support is making a real difference, and we will continue pushing for meaningful action

Image credit: Leicester Mercury