Police were under pressure today to explain why it took more than 18 hours to release any information about the fatal stabbing of a university student.
The victim, aged 20, was attacked at 5pm on Tuesday close to De Montfort University (DMU) campus in Leicester city centre.
Leicestershire police did not publish a press release until 11.30am today and only after the university had confirmed a ‘very serious incident had taken place.
Local councillor Phil King said the delay was ‘terribly unhelpful’ and led to ‘idle speculation’ which included ‘wild rumours’ that multiple people had been stabbed as well as that the incident was linked to one in Sheffield.
He has written to the city’s police and crime commissioner Rupert Matthews asking for an explanation. Mr King, Conservative councillor for the Harborough district, said: ‘Obviously this is a very tragic situation, my thoughts are with family and friends and this will be deeply concerning to all residents.
‘But why did this take Leicestershire Police approximately 18 hours to release any public information?’
He told the Daily Mail: ‘I have local residents who work there, students who study and there is a hospital next door. ‘Obviously they have to do their job and I understand all that and it is an awful tragedy
‘But information is needed to stop idle speculation and all that which is terribly unhelpful and makes people wonder what is going. I think it is very concerning, We all want reassurance. We pay a lot of taxes for the police service.’
Shockat Adam, the independent MP for Leicester South, which includes the DMU campus, said he had spoken to Leicestershire Police ‘about its communications around this incident’ and added: ‘When you have a vacuum it gets filled by rumours – I’m certain there will be learnings from the police on this.’
Mr Adam said his thoughts were with the friends and family of the young man who died.
‘It is gut-wrenching news to hear. A young life has been lost needlessly – a 20-year-old man with a bright future ahead of him.’
People living nearby also expressed concern about the delay.
Writing online Stuart Bint asked Leicester MP Liz Kendall for information after she issued a message saying she was ‘aware of a serious incident’.
Mr Bint, a retired author, said: ‘This is truly an horrific incident. But what’s to be gained by the complete secrecy from Leicestershire police?
‘Fear and speculation are rife in the area. Can you not urge the Chief Constable to make a holding statement, to calm things down?’
Kathy Parr added: ‘What exactly did happen, though? Other stabbings in the news are not given this amount of secrecy.
Ben Bradgate said: ‘Why is there a news blackout? What information is being suppressed & why?
A Leciestershire police spokesman said: ‘The force understands that this incident has caused significant concern to those living in the surrounding area and the wider community.
‘Following the report being received, emergency services were deployed and a scene preservation was put in place to secure any evidence and allow the investigation to begin.
‘Notification of the road closures were publicised on the force’s social media channels.
‘During this period, enquiries were also undertaken to locate the deceased’s next of kin and allow time for specially-trained officers to notify them of what had happened. This is in line with the force’s victim-first approach to such incidents.
‘Information about the incident was publicised to the force’s website and social media channels once all necessary processes had been undertaken.’
